Was that real?
Bayern Munich fell to VfL Bochum 3-2 in arguably the most tumultuous game of the season. Missed penalties, offside goals, red cards and a comeback storyline: this game was a roller coaster. But not the fun kind.
It was all going well: rotation and tactics
Yes, he did it. Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany finally rotated in an attempt to manage the player workload before the second leg clash against Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Kompany’s backline consisted of four fullbacks and a sole central defender, which was an interesting but understandable choice of players. His setup looked to create chances through the flank, bypassing the midfield in buildup. Bochum tried to take advantage of the weak midfield to create quick counters and found some success, but that was truly amplified following Joåo Palhinha’s red card. At least in the first half, it looked like it was working fairly well.
Raphaël Guerreiro scored a brace early on, and that was down to him utilizing the flank extremely well along with Hiroki Itō. The two were able to create a plethora of chances together and finish them effectively. It was a wonderful partnership considering they have rarely ever played together. Kompany’s tactics to have them overlap with the wingers even in the box was typical of his set-ups earlier in his coaching career, overloading the box in a systematic manner. It was fun to see, and even more fun when it worked well.
Thomas Müller had an interesting game, picking up an assist (although some might place blame on him for the first Bochum goal). The standout however, was Jonas Urbig (yes, despite conceding three goals). Urbig was fearless and quick and made some key saves when it looked like a Bochum goal was certain. There is a lot more in store for the young keeper — despite the circumstances, it was a solid full debut.
Where did it all go wrong?! (and a reality check)
Palhinha’s red card marked a turning point, as it came right after Bochum’s first goal. Sure, one can argue over whether or not that was a red, but what it certainly was was a missed opportunity for Palhinha to break back in to the first team following his injury. He got extremely unlucky with the foul on Masouras, and his team lost significant morale following it.
Serge Gnabry’s missed penalty gave Bochum a little more momentum in a game where they seemed shut out. With Gnabry, it was another performance of the deeply mediocre calibre that has become synonymous with his name and typical of his game. Leon Goretzka had a game to forget, especially after Palhinha’s red card where he simply couldn’t control the midfield on his own. As for Leroy Sané… despite winning a penalty, it was another forgettable performance marked by misplaced passes in buildup and losing the ball oh-so-often.
The point all of this makes is that major chunks of Bayern’s second team are simply not good enough — especially the ones on high wages. The players should be winning a game against 16th placed Bochum — even a man down. The depth options might look good on paper, but have proven weak in practice. Let this serve as a reality check, following the euphoric 3-0 win midweek. There is still work to be done.
Bayern let Bochum get into their game in the second half while they looked visibly shaken. Yes, the circumstances were adverse, but the expectations were higher. The final 30 minutes were carnage, and the first team subs proved ineffective.
It could have been worse
Yeah, it was bad. Not good for morale going into the second leg of a Champions League knockout tie. Not good for certain players, who had their chance to make a case to start on Tuesday. Not good for the standings, as Bayern could have extended their lead. And certainly not good for the stunning 125th anniversary kit to be worn in a game with such a bitter end.
But, Bayer Leverkusen recorded a loss against Werder Bremen themselves, which means that Bayern have miraculously maintained their eight-point lead. And given the choice, most Bayern fans would choose losing to Bochum over the rest of the league anyway. And if there were an ideal time for the team to crumble like today, a low-stakes game like the one tonight would be it. So everything considered: it could’ve been worse. Onward — UCL quarterfinal qualification awaits.
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.
