VfL Bochum inflicted the next defeat on FC Bayern Munich with a lot of fighting effort. Coach Thomas Tuchel’s team suffered their third competitive defeat in a row.
The cheers were deafening, VfL Bochum players and fans could hardly believe their luck. The Ruhr area club won 3-2 (2-1) on Sunday evening (February 18, 2024) after a great fight against FC Bayern Munich. This means that coach Thomas Tuchel’s team may have slipped into a veritable crisis after their third competitive defeat in a row.
While the Bochum team were able to score unexpected points in the relegation battle, FCB’s gap to league leaders Bayer 04 Leverkusen has now increased to eight points.
To the live ticker: Bochum – Bayern arrow right 22nd matchday arrow right
Musiala gives Bayern the lead
The Bochum team started confidently against the unsettled Bayern. Coach Thomas Letsch’s team was aggressive in the duels and tried to gain respect through their first offensive actions. Bayern, who initially competed without Leroy Sané (knee) and shooting star Aleksandar Pavlovic (hip), needed a few minutes to get their bearings and find an orderly game.
At first it was a game of equals, but the Munich team became more and more dominant as the game went on. And after multiple chances, Jamal Musiala gave FCB the lead after 14 minutes. The offensive player got the ball from seven meters and hammered the ball into the net of the VfL goal.
Protests against the German Football League
Only four minutes later, Tuchel’s team should have scored the second goal, but attacker Harry Kane, completely alone, missed miserably in front of Bochum goalkeeper Manuel Riemann – instead of passing to Thomas Müller, who was also running along.
Afterwards, tennis balls flew from the stands onto the Bochum lawn. The fan protests against an investor entry by the German Football League (DFL) lasted around 13 minutes, during which the game had to be interrupted.
Bochum turns the game around
However, the Bochum team really got going after the involuntary break – and turned the game around. After a counterattack, VfL attacker Takuma Asano converted a low shot from eleven meters into the far corner to make it 1-1 (38th).
And that’s not all. VfL continued with determination and was successful again. After a corner kicked by Kevin Stöger, Keven Schlotterbeck headed in to make it 2-1 (44th). As a result, the VfL players were carried by this energy and posed problems for the Tuchel team with a lot of effort and running.
Concentrated defensive work
After the break, the Ruhr area club continued courageously. Bayern defender Kim was able to stop Asano at the last moment, right in front of FCB goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Bayern also tried to get dangerously close to the VfL goal, but failed because of Bochum’s concentrated defensive work. Then tennis balls flew again and the game was interrupted again for three minutes. This time, however, the Munich team did not allow themselves to be taken by surprise and increased the pace.
Kane scores the next goal
Bayern tried everything to score an equalizer, but the Bochum team threw themselves into every shot – and were successful for their part. After a corner, Dayot Upamecano hit Schlotterbeck in the face with his elbow. Referee Daniel Schlager rightly decided on a penalty and also showed the Bayern defender yellow and red. Stöger converted from the point to make it 3-1 (78th).
However, Bayern did not want to accept this defeat and ran again even when they were outnumbered. VfL goalkeeper Manuel Riemann was able to fend off substitute Sané’s first attempt, and Harry Kane was right on the next attack and made it 2-3. But it was no longer enough for Bayern.