Bochum vs BFC: A longstanding rivalry - is BFC posing a growing threat?
VfL Bochum Braces for Must-Win DFB-Pokal Clash Against BFC Dynamo
VfL Bochum, currently ranked 14th in the North-East division, will aim to advance to the second round of the DFB-Pokal on August 16, as they face regional league side BFC Dynamo. The match promises to be a challenging encounter for Bochum, who have had a mixed record in recent years against lower-tier opponents in the DFB-Pokal.
In the 2025/26 DFB-Pokal first round, Bochum narrowly defeated BFC Dynamo 3-1 after extra time. Despite BFC Dynamo taking an early lead and Bochum conceding a numerical advantage, Bochum equalized late in regular time and scored twice in extra time to avoid a potential upset. This match illustrates Bochum’s vulnerability but also their ability to eventually prevail against lower-league opponents.
Historically, Bochum’s record is stronger overall than BFC Dynamo’s in the cup. BFC Dynamo has never won a DFB-Pokal match in its history, losing their previous eight ties including heavy defeats by higher-division teams like VfB Stuttgart and FC Köln. Bochum has reached as far as the quarter-finals, notably in the 2021/22 season, but has been eliminated by lower-tier teams in the first round in some recent years, showing some inconsistency.
The opponents in the past two years were Arminia Bielefeld and Jahn Regensburg, with Bochum being eliminated in the first round by both teams. In the 2018/19 season, Nord-regionalliga side Weiche Flensburg knocked out VfL Bochum in the first round (0:1). In the 2009/10 season, Bochum barely overcame Sportfreunde Lotte in the DFB-Pokal, winning 1:0, with Diego Klimowicz scoring the winning goal (50').
In the 2017/18 season, Bochum reached the quarter-finals before losing to SC Freiburg in extra time. Wuppertaler SV brought Bochum to the brink of defeat in that season, going ahead through Semir Saric (23'), but Bochum equalized late in regular time, with Robert Tesche scoring the winning goal in extra time (111').
Bochum will be considered the heavy favorite against BFC Dynamo, but they will be wary of underestimating their opponents, given their history of close matches against regional league sides in the DFB-Pokal. The team will be eager to secure a win and avoid another early exit from the competition.
The upcoming DFB-Pokal clash between VfL Bochum and BFC Dynamo presents an opportunity for Bochum to display their sports prowess, specifically in football, as they attempt to overcome lower-league opposition. With a mixed record against regional teams in the European-leagues cup, Bochum will strive to build on their previous win against BFC Dynamo in the 2025/26 season, where they emerged victorious after extra time.
