Definition of a trap game and Bayern walked straight into it.
Ah, VfL Bochum. The relegation-zone Bundesliga side either serve as cannon fodder for the high-flying Bavarians or smack mighty Bayern Munich in the face with a series of worldies.
On Saturday, nestled between two Champions League clashes with defending league winners Bayer Leverkusen, Bochum got in another of the latter, serving up three delicious goals in a thrilling 3-2 win over Bayern at the Allianz.
It was Bayern’s second defeat of the season and the Bavarians are still in commanding lead of the league. And it took a set of circumstances — a missed Serge Gnabry penalty, a heroic save by Timo Horn at point-blank range, and a dubious first-half red card for João Palhinha — to bring it about.
So while the victory was fully earned by the rightly proud visitors, perhaps there are not too many performances to be down on for Vincent Kompany’s heavily-rotated side either. And even some spots of praise — to this author’s eye, left-back Hiroki Itō’s offensive involvement in creating both of Bayern’s goals, particularly his early through-ball to Gnabry that led to Raphäel Guerreiro’s opener, worthy of praise.
Quick-hitters from #FCBBOC today —
1. Pens aren’t automatic, huh
2. That Itō sure can pass the ball
3. Tough way to go for a young GK’s debut…and wow, Rapha! Guerreiro lit up the field for #FCBayern #MiaSanMia
— Bavarian Football Works (@bavarianfbworks.bsky.social) 2025-03-08T20:42:00.232Z
Here is how Bild rated the performances. Have your say below:
Player ratings [@BILD] pic.twitter.com/tr7Qgh5cUV
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) March 8, 2025
Player Ratings Poll (view results)
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Need to talk through the match? Yeah, us too. Listen with us in this edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works Postgame Show and share your thoughts in the comments about a shock 2-3 home defeat at the Allianz that spoiled Bayern Munich’s 125th anniversary celebrations. Tune in on Spotify or the player below:
Also, be sure to stay tuned to Bavarian Podcast Works for all of your up to date coverage on Bayern Munich and Germany. Check us out on Patreon and follow us on Twitter @BavarianFBWorks, @BavarianPodcast @TheBarrelBlog, @BFWCyler, @2012nonexistent, @TommyAdams71 and more.
