Bayern Munich: Takeaways from disappointing 2-3 loss against Vfl Bochum

Squad rotation didn't work out as intended against Bochum, but with Leverkusen also losing on Saturday, Bayern Munich maintain a comfortable eight-point lead over reigning Bundesliga Champions
Bayern Munich players arguing with referee after Joao Palhinha was sent off against Bochum.
Bayern Munich players arguing with referee after Joao Palhinha was sent off against Bochum. | ALEXANDRA BEIER/GettyImages
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Hiroki Ito could have gotten some minutes at center-back

With hindsight being 20/20 and sticking with the theme of squad rotation, Hiroki Ito could have been given the start at center-back alongside Eric Dier instead of being deployed at left-back.

Despite a man-of the-match performance from Raphael Guerreiro with his brace while playing in the number ten position, the feeling exists that with Ito next to Dier in central defense and Stanisic and Guerreiro as the full-backs the back-four may have been harder to penetrate.

Gabriel Vidovic, the promising 21-year-old natural attacking-midfielder, could have gotten the start just behind Thomas Muller as the number ten. The youngster would have gotten an opportunity to showcase his talent in a relatively low-stakes game for at least 45 minutes.