Bayern Munich will be gearing up for a stern challenge ahead when they face VfL Bochum at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion on Saturday.
Bayern Munich have enjoyed a brilliant start to 2022. The Matchday 20 in the Bundesliga saw them secure a vital victory over RB Leipzig before Borussia Dortmund slumped to a 5-2 defeat at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen, effectively helping the club regain its healthy nine-point lead at the top of the league table.
The Bavarian juggernaut are aiming to maintain that lead when they travel to Vonovia Ruhrstadion to face VfL Bochum on Saturday. Bayern Munich have an excellent relationship with their weekend opponent, thanks to the fan-friendship culture prevalent between the two sets of fans.
But when they take to the field on Saturday, both the clubs will be desperate for three points, with Bochum, in particular, looking for their first win in four league matches. The recent run of winless games has seen Thomas Reis’ men spiralling down the bottom half of the league table, and with Wolfsburg and Borussia Monchengladbach breathing down their necks, securing at least a point could be vital.
Bochum’s last encounter against Bayern Munich saw them concede seven goals. However, a lot has changed since, and one would expect the Ruhrpott outfit to provide more of a challenge at home, as only seven of their 25 points in the Bundesliga have come in away fixtures this season.
That said, Bayern are simply on a roll and have scored 11 goals in three matches since the shocking 2-1 defeat to Gladbach at the start of the year. Julian Nagelsmann’s men are aiming to extend on that record, and ahead of their crucial matchup in the Bundesliga this weekend, the Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
VfL Bochum
VfL Bochum have been dealt with a fresh blow this week as influential goalkeeper Manuel Riemann has been ruled out due to COVID-19. Michael Esser is in line to replace him in goal, in what could be the only defensive change from the home side this weekend.
Ever wondered why Bochum and @FCBayernEN have a football friendship? ???
Find the story out below (thread). ?? #meinVfL #packmas #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/NfBk9OdGay
— VfL Bochum 1848 (@VfLBochum1848EN) February 11, 2022
Indeed, Thomas Reis has no reason to tinker with his central defensive unit of Armel Bella-Kotchap and Maxim Leitsch, though the hard-working Erhan Masovic remains an option, should the Bochum coach prefer more grit in the backline. Cristian Gamboa and Danilo Soares, meanwhile, remain favourites to occupy the fullback slots, and they will have their task cut out against the mighty Bayern wingers.
Moving into midfield, Reis is unlikely to shift from his three-man setup, but he may opt for a few changes. Club captain Anthony Losilla, after all, is back in contention and should occupy the holding midfield role, just ahead of Elvis Rexbecaj and Milos Pantovic.
The Bochum midfield three will be tasked with the responsibility of breaking up Bayern’s build-up play. But they must remain cautious of the opposition’s ability to switch the play, and that is where the additional coverage from the fullbacks could be vital.
As for the attack, Bochum do have a lot of offensive firepower, with Gerrit Holtmann and Takuma Asano being deployed as wide attackers, complementing the number nine in Jurgen Locadia. Reis has a trump card in his hands in the form of Sebastian Polter, who is the club’s top scorer with seven goals. Polter’s physical presence inside the box could come in handy in the second half.
Probable Lineup (4-1-2-3): Esser; Gamboa, Bella-Kotchap, Leitsch, Soares; Losilla; Pantovic, Rexbecaj; Holtmann, Locadia, Asano
Bayern Munich
Manuel Neuer has recently joined Bayern Munich’s list of absentees, with knee surgery ruling him out for at least four to six weeks. He is set to miss this encounter alongside Leon Goretzka and Alphonso Davies, who is suffering from myocarditis. Neuer’s absence leaves Nagelsmann with no option but to start Sven Ulreich in goal, meaning both the teams this weekend will have to play with their second choice goalkeeper.
Bayern Munich confirm that Manuel Neuer underwent successful knee surgery today & will be out for the foreseeable future.
— Get German Football News (@GGFN_) February 6, 2022
There might be another change in defence, with Benjamin Pavard appearing to be a doubt after missing training due to a suspected COVID test. His potential absence could see Nagelsmann deploy a three-man backline consisting of Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Hernandez and Niklas Sule, who has recently announced his move to Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season.
Nagelsmann will have one eye on the important Champions League affair against RB Salzburg in midweek. On that note, the Bayern coach could fancy giving Jamal Musiala a start in midfield, although Corentin Tolisso remains the favourite to form the double-pivot alongside the ever so reliable Joshua Kimmich.
Moving forward, the shift to a three-man setup has given Nagelsmann the opportunity to field four attackers in behind the main striker Robert Lewandowski.
In this system, Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman usually occupy the wing-back slots, with Leroy Sane and Thomas Muller operating in central areas of the pitch. This formation has yielded 11 goals in the last three matches, and Nagelsmann has no reason to tinker with the setup against Bochum this weekend.
Probable Lineup (3-2-4-1): Ulreich; Sule, Upamecano, Hernandez; Kimmich, Tolisso; Gnabry, Muller, Sane, Coman; Lewandowski
Key Stats
- Polter is Bochum’s top scorer by some distance on seven goals. The only German player in the Bundesliga with more this season is Bayern’s Serge Gnabry (10).
- Manuel Riemann is third in the division for saves made (77), keeping five of his six clean sheets this season at home.
- Since conceding seven in Munich on Matchday 5 – Bochum’s heaviest defeat at the professional level – the promoted side have only shipped more than two goals in one game (vs Leipzig). The 14 they’ve conceded over the last 14 games is also the fewest in the league together with Bayern.
- Robert Lewandowski’s 24 goals this season has him one short of his total at the same stage last term as he went on to score a record 41. His tally after Matchday 22 was 26.
- Bayern haven’t lost away at a promoted club in 24 games going back to August 2010 (W23, D1). Their sole defeat at Bochum in the last 35 years came almost exactly 18 years ago (1-0 on 14 February 2004).
Player to Watch
Niklas Sule
Niklas Sule is certainly the player worth keeping an eye on as the defender braces himself for his first game after announcing his move to Borussia Dortmund after the end of the season. His decision hasn’t gone down too well with the Bayern Munich fans, but coach Julian Nagelsmann has affirmed his belief in the player, despite him switching his allegiances in less than four months.
From a tactical perspective, Sule could be a key component on the right hand side of the three-man Bayern backline, especially in the potential absence of Pavard. His ability to snuff out danger, coupled with his dominance in physical and aerial duels, could go a long way in helping the Bavarians to keep Bochum quiet on the counter.
Prediction
VfL Bochum 1-4 Bayern Munich
The presence of Neuer in between the sticks will be missed for a Bayern Munich side that are otherwise too strong for Bochum. With a new formation and a shift in dynamic, Nagelsmann has found a lot of success from his team going forward and that could continue against the NRW outfit, who have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last three Bundesliga matches.
While it won’t be surprising to see the Bayern Munich defence once again being exploited by the sharp attacking trio of Asano, Locadia and Holtmann, we expect the Bavarians to run the opposition ragged and secure yet another comfortable victory.
