Borussia Dortmund are known for their passionate fanbase - but local rivals Bochum have their own fiercely loyal following. - © Lukas Schulze/Bundesliga

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Bochum vs. Borussia Dortmund: What is the 'little Revierderby'?

10.02.2025

With Schalke still in Bundesliga 2, the top flight remains without its Revierderby. However, there will still be rumblings in other parts of the Ruhrgebiet when Borussia Dortmund travel to Bochum.

A 'Revierderby' broadly refers to a neighbourly meeting of two clubs from the heavily industrialised Ruhr district. More specifically, the Revierderby narrows that down to the 20 miles separating Dortmund from Schalke's home base of Gelsenkirchen.

A number of other professional teams hail from the wider region, but they have to make do with the tag of 'little Revierderby' for their various head-to-heads.

Downgraded in name only, Bochum hosting Dortmund on Matchday 22 is still a Revierderby. A regional power struggle in an area of Germany where bragging rights really matter - but with a twist.

Watch: Dortmund vs. Bochum - Ruhr district roots

Since Bochum's return to the Bundesliga in 2021, there have been several memorable match-ups. The clash on Matchday 30 of 2022/23 had perhaps the biggest impact, as Dortmund missed the chance to move four points clear of Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga after being held to a 1-1 draw away to relegation-threatened Bochum.

Although BVB wrestled back the initiative heading into the final day, they ultimately fell short of a first title since 2011/12, on goal difference - a victory at the home of their close rivals would have been enough to see them finish at the summit.

Watch: Bochum did Bayern a huge favour by holding Dortmund

For the second time in as many seasons since ending their 11-year exile from the top flight, Bochum sunk Dortmund's battleship. Just 12 months earlier, they had secured their top-flight survival with room to spare by beating BVB 4-3 at the Signal Iduna Park.

Dortmund took the spoils in the Bundesliga and DFB Cup between times, rather more in keeping with the head-to-head record between the two Ruhr district rivals. The aforementioned seven-goal thriller is Bochum's only Bundesliga win over BVB in their last 13 attempts, with Die Schwarzgelben winning 4-2 at home in September - following a 3-1 triumph and 1-1 draw in 2023/24.

Dortmund would dearly love to win this weekend, following a 1-2 defeat at home to VfB Stuttgart in their first match under new coach Niko Kovač. Will that play into Bochum's hands as they battle for points to lift them off the bottom, or will Dortmund start to click under Kovač at their North Rhine Westphalia neighbours? Despite what the name suggests, the latest edition of the 'little Revierderby' is going to be BIG! You can follow the action right here on bundesliga.com!