Bayern Munich vs Bochum

Record-time Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich entertain perennial strugglers Bochum at the Allianz Arena.

Unfazed by last weekend’s 2-2 draw against Bayer Leverkusen in the top-table Bundesliga six-pointer, Bayern Munich put four past Manchester United in an action-packed 4-3 home win in midweek Champions League action. Since a dreadful 3-0 defeat to RB Leipzig in a curtain-raising DFL-Supercup showpiece last month, the ‘Bavarians’ have gone from strength to strength, putting together a five-game unbeaten run in all competitions (W4, D1), not to mention scoring multiple goals on each occasion. Interestingly, Leipzig remain the only team to win a Bundesliga match at the Allianz Arena since January 2022 (W17, D8), while Thomas Tuchel’s men haven’t gone back-to-back home league games without winning since January 2023. That tradition is unlikely to change this weekend, with Bayern developing a habit of packing a punch against Bochum, netting 3+ goals in their last five H2Hs in Munich (W4, D1).

In the meantime, Bochum’s quest to better last season’s disappointing 14th-place finish has been off to a stuttering start. Since an embarrassing 5-0 defeat at Stuttgart on the opening weekend, the visitors have drawn three consecutive Bundesliga matches despite conceding first on two occasions. Manager Thomas Letsch cannot be pleased with his side’s winless league start, but considering his men opened last season with four consecutive losses, this is a sign of prosperity. One of his most significant tasks this term is to address Bochum’s travel sickness after only relegated Hertha BSC amassed fewer Bundesliga points on the road than ‘Die Unabsteigbaren’ last year (9 – W2, D3, L12).