VfL Bochum vs Bayern Munich: Bundesliga Matchday 22 Preview
VfL Bochum
Bochum come into Sunday's home game sitting 14th in the Bundesliga and six points clear of the relegation playoff. Thomas Letsch's men have found the second half of the Bundesliga season to be very kind to them. Apart from a 3-1 away defeat to Dortmund on matchday 19, the West German side have taken at least a point in each game. They will feel strongly that they can pile on Bayern's misery and get at least a point in front of home fans.
Manuel Riemann has been a mainstay in goal for Bochum and will once again get the start in goal for Sunday's match. Youngster Tim Oermann will get the start at right back, and the 20 year old will get his first taste of playing against Bayern Munich. Centrally, Ukrainian Ivan Ordets will start alongside Keven Schlotterbeck. On the left, the Brazilian Bernardo should start.
In front of the back four, club captain Anthony Losilla will sit and play the defensive role to break up Bayern's attack. Patrick Osterhage will start along Losilla with Kevin Stoger looking to play the more advanced role of the three midfielders.
Japanese international Takuma Asano has returned from the Asian Cup and will get the start on the right side. Opposite Asano will be Ghanain international Christopher Antwi-Adjei. Both Asano and Antwi-Adjei will give Bayern issues in transtion and will require both Bayern fullbacks to be alert in transition moments. Moritz Broschinski joined from Dortmund over the summer and he will look to spearhead the attack as the center forward.
VfL Bochum Predicted Starting XI
Riemann
Oermann-Ordets-Schlotterbeck-Bernardo
Osterhage-Losilla
Asano-Stoger-Antwi Adjei
Broschinski
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Score Prediction
VfL Bochum 1-2 Bayern Munich (Kane and Muller)
Thomas Tuchel's future at Bayern is currently on life support. I never thought I would see a game vs Bochum as a "must win", but here we are and Sunday's match is a "must win". I am not sure how Bayern will score the goals, and I fear the frustrations will boil over. Bayern will push for goals, leaving themselves exposed to a very dangerous counter-attacking side in Bochum. Bochum will know they have nothing to lose and will look to play on Bayern's frustrations. This could be a recipe for disaster. My hope is Tuchel can iron out the attacking deficiencies and the Bavarians can claim all three points to temporarily right the ship.