Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich squandered a two-goal advantage, suffering a surprising 3-2 defeat to VfL Bochum on Saturday in a disappointing buildup ahead of next week’s crucial Champions League return leg against Bayer Leverkusen.
Despite the loss, Bayern remains at the top of the Bundesliga standings with 61 points, still holding an eight-point lead over second-placed Leverkusen, who were beaten 2-0 at home by Werder Bremen. However, the Bavarians will be concerned about their form, especially after making significant changes in their lineup. Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany rotated 10 players from the squad that triumphed 3-0 over Leverkusen in the first leg of their Round of 16 Champions League tie on Wednesday, and the decision ultimately backfired in their first home Bundesliga defeat of the season.
Bayern looked to be on track for a routine victory early in the match, with Raphael Guerreiro scoring twice within 14 minutes to put his side 2-0 up by the 28th minute. The Portuguese international capitalized on a loose ball in the box to score in the 14th minute, before doubling his tally just eight minutes later, despite Bayern missing a 22nd-minute penalty from Serge Gnabry. Notably, Harry Kane started the match on the bench. Gnabry’s missed penalty was especially significant, as it marked Bayern’s first miss after 16 consecutive successful spot kicks.
However, Bochum quickly responded, halving the deficit just three minutes later when Jakov Medic drilled a shot into the net. The situation worsened for Bayern just before the break when Joao Palhinha was sent off for a rough challenge in the 43rd minute, reducing Bayern to 10 men.
Bochum made the most of their numerical advantage, equalizing in the 51st minute when Ibrahima Sissoko powered in a header. The visitors completed their stunning comeback in the 71st minute, with Matus Bero slipping into the box to beat Bayern’s third-choice goalkeeper, Jonas Urbig, who was making his Bundesliga debut.
Bayern’s hopes of salvaging a point were dashed in the 79th minute when Bochum’s goalkeeper, Timo Horn, made a crucial save, tipping a point-blank header from Jamal Musiala onto the crossbar.
The defeat will be a worrying one for Bayern as they now shift their focus to next week’s Champions League clash, needing a strong performance to ensure progression to the next round.
