Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich are all set to host relegation-threatened VfL Bochum at Allianz Arena on Saturday.
Bayern Munich will be looking to extend their ten-match unbeaten run across all competitions when they host VfL Bochum, who have only won four games all season, at the Allianz Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The home team have accumulated 61 points in their 24 Bundesliga outings, and they have an eight-point lead over second-placed Bayer Leverkusen. Apart from winning their last two league games, Die Roten smashed Leverkusen 3-0 in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg heading into this fixture.
Vincent Kompany’s men are in red-hot form, and they should get the job done here without much difficulty. On the other hand, VfL Bochum are 16th on the Bundesliga table with just 17 points in their 24 outings. The visitors have lost 15 of those matches, and they are four points behind safety.
After a run of three games where they accumulated five points, Bochum suffered a defeat against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, and they will have to punch above their weight if they want to get something out of this fixture. The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could use.
Team News & Tactics
Bayern Munich
Vincent Kompany’s team suffered a massive blow last time out as Manuel Neuer picked up a calf injury, and the Bayern Munich captain could be out for a while. Jonas Urbig, who stepped in during the UEFA Champions League game, is expected to start in this fixture.
Bayern Munich should stick to their usual 4-2-3-1 formation when they take on VfL Bochum at the Allianz Arena on Saturday. The home side will most likely rest a few of their stars for this fixture ahead of the all-important Champions League round of 16 second leg against Bayer Leverkusen.
Eric Dier and Hiroki Ito should be the two central defenders for the Bundesliga table-toppers this weekend. Meanwhile, Josip Stanisic and Raphael Guerreiro should be the two full-backs for the home side.
As for the midfield unit, Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich should form the double pivot in the middle of the park. They will look to shield the backline and control the tempo of the game. Thomas Muller could be the attacking midfielder for this one, with Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman on the flanks. Harry Kane will continue to lead the line for Bayern Munich against VfL Bochum.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Urbig; Stanisic, Dier, Ito, Guerreiro; Goretzka, Kimmich; Gnabry, Muller, Coman; Kane
VfL Bochum
The away side will be without the services of Ivan Ordets, Gerrit Holtmann, and Myron Boadu. VfL Bochum will stick to the same XI that started in their last outing when they lock horns with Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Saturday.
The away side will line up in a 3-5-2 formation, with Timo Horn taking charge between the sticks. Meanwhile, Tim Oermann, Jakov Medic, and Bernardo will form the back three for Bochum this weekend.
Felix Passlack and Maximilian Wittek will feature as the wing-backs for the away team. Matus Bero, Ibrahima Sissoko, and Tom Krauss will feature as the three central midfielders. They will look to ensure that the Bayern Munich midfielders do not dominate the ball too deep in their half. Finally, Giorgos Masouras will start alongside Philipp Hofmann in the strike partnership.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Horn; Oermann, Medic, Bernardo; Passlack, Bero, Sissoko, Krauss, Wittek; Masouras, Hofmann
Key Stats
- Bayern Munich won the reverse fixture 5-0 back in October.
- VfL Bochum have a very poor record on the road in the 2024/25 season as they have lost ten out of their 13 away fixtures (W1 D2).
- Vincent Kompany’s team have won each of their last ten league games at at the Allianz Arena.
- While VfL Bochum have been far from their best, the positive for them is that they have only lost one out of their last four league games.
- Bayern Munich have been unbeaten in their last ten games across all competitions (W8 D2).
Player to Watch
Harry Kane
Kane is closing in on his major trophy, as he has ensured Bayern Munich remain in full control of the Bundesliga title race. The England captain will look to help Die Roten get a step closer to the lifting the Meisterschale with another win here. Having already contributed to 41 goals in his 34 outings, it won’t be much of a surprise if he ends up being the difference between the two teams.
Prediction
Bayern Munich 4-0 VfL Bochum
While Bochum have only lost one out of their last four league games, they have suffered ten defender in their 13 away outings thus far this term. The away side have struggled on their travels, and that is unlikely to change when they square up against the league leaders, who defeated them 5-0 in the reverse fixture. The Hard Tackle predicts a 4-0 win for Vincent Kompany and his charges..
