Bochum vs Bayern München preview: Bayern to leave European humbling in the past
Bochum
Bochum suffered a 3-1 defeat to Hoffenheim on October 19th. Despite generating nearly three expected goals (xG) and crafting five clear scoring opportunities, Bochum managed just one goal.
Bochum ranks joint 11th in big chances created across the league but has struggled with finishing, scoring only eight goals, the second-lowest tally in the Bundesliga.
Peter Zeidler was in charge of the Hoffenheim match, but he was dismissed on Sunday. Markus Feldhoff and Murat Ura have since stepped in as interim managers.
The duo now lead a team that has gone eight games without a win, with seven losses and one draw. Bochum has also faced significant struggles at home, losing 14 of their last 19 Bundesliga outings and securing just one victory, alongside three draws and five losses, in their previous nine league matches on home turf.
Team News
Bochum will be missing goalkeeper Manuel Riemann, who is still suspended from first-team activities following a dispute over playing time from the close of the 2023-24 season.
Additionally, Bernardo remains sidelined with a knee injury until late November, while Matus Bero and Myron Boadu are also not expected back until next month. Ivan Ordets and Erhan Mašić are likely to pair up in central defence, with Dani de Wit, Ibrahim Sissoko, and Anthony Losilla forming the midfield trio.
Bayern München
Bayern arrive at this fixture after a 4-1 defeat to Hansi Flick’s Barcelona on Wednesday, where Raphinha netted a hat-trick and former Bayern star Robert Lewandowski added another goal.
Following the match, Kompany acknowledged there were no excuses for his team’s showing and admitted the overly attacking setup might have backfired. This loss marks Bayern’s second defeat in three Champions League games, leaving them in 23rd place in the group standings.
Despite this, Bayern remain first in the Bundesliga. In recent weeks, they've held their own against tough opponents, including reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, and last season's runners-up, Stuttgart, emerging undefeated from these challenging league encounters.
In their last Bundesliga match on October 19, Bayern displayed their offensive firepower with a 4-0 victory over Stuttgart, where Harry Kane delivered a hat-trick.
As they hit the road again, Bayern brings an impressive away record, with three wins and a draw in their last four league outings, racking up 17 goals and conceding only six across those games.
Team News
In light of Bayern's recent heavy loss to Barcelona, Kompany is expected to field a strong starting lineup as they seek a swift response.
However, Kompany will have to navigate around several injuries of his own. Aleksandar Pavlovic and Sacha Boey are out until December, and Hiroki Ito and Josip Stanišić are unlikely to return before mid-November.
Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae are almost certain to start as centre-backs, while Joshua Kimmich is expected to line up in midfield alongside Joao Palhinha.