Bochum 2-1 Union Berlin
Goals: 1-0 Hofmann 43’ (assist: Förster), 2-0 Holtmann 71’ (assist: Antwi-Adjei), 2-1 Pantovic 90'+3

Bochum and Union were worlds apart coming into this Matchday 11 fixture. Separated by 19 points and the entire Bundesliga table, it also saw the division’s leakiest defence up against its meanest. However, the basement dwellers and leaders cancelled each other out at the Ruhrstadion. It took 27 minutes for either side to break the midfield battle of attrition as Hofmann met a Cristian Gamboa free-kick but only headed at goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow. It took another 10 minutes for Union to register an effort when Jordan ran onto a low corner but failed to get any power behind his shot. Hofmann only needed physical strength when the deadlock was finally broken, outmuscling his markers at a corner to flick in Philipp Förster’s delivery from the right.

Sensing that this could be their day for just a second win of the campaign, the fans inside the Ruhrstadion turned up the volume to urge their side on. With Union struggling to get going at all – and ex-VfL man Milos Pantovic firing an effort wide – Bochum came closest to a second when Jordi Osei-Tutu rattled the crossbar. They did finally double their advantage with 20 minutes to go as Christopher Antwi-Adjei squared for substitute Holtmann to guide home unchallenged. The Berliners were handed a lifeline when awarded a penalty on review, but Pantovic was denied by his former teammate Manuel Riemann. Pantovic did finally hit the back of the net three minutes into added time but it was too late as Union's second defeat of the campaign saw their advantage at the top cut to just a single point ahead of Bayern Munich. Bochum, meanwhile, brought up just their second win of the season to move off the bottom ahead of Schalke’s game at Hertha Berlin.

Watch: Holtmann: "We're slowly giving our fans what they need"

BOC Bochum Bochum - FCU Union Berlin Union Berlin

Basement boys Bochum stun leaders Union