Bochum Celebrates Historic 3-2 Away Victory Over Bayern Munich

It was a historic result for VfL Bochum. On Saturday, the relegation candidate overcame a two-goal deficit to beat Bayern Munich 3-2 at the Allianz Arena. Bayern took the lead thanks to a brace by Raphael Guerreiro (14’ & 28’), but goals by Jakov Medic (31’), Ibrahima Sissoko (51’), and Matus Bero (71’) turned the game around for Bochum.

On top of that, Bayern Munich also had midfielder João Palhinha sent off just before halftime. “We lost, no excuses,” Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany said when asked about the red card. “We can analyze as much as we want, but in the end, we have to take responsibility for everything and ensure we build towards our next game.”

Part of the story is that Bayern heavily rotated ahead of the game. The backline of Hiroki Ito, Eric Dier, Josip Stanisic, and Sacha Boey was certainly experimental, as was playing Guerreiro, Leon Goretzka, and Palhinha in midfield together. Up front, Serge Gnabry and Thomas Müller started the game.

Despite all that rotation, Bayern started well. Indeed, after the two early goals, it appeared the club was ready to continue its 125th birthday celebrations. Bayern turned 125 last week but played on the road, which meant the club wore its special kits against Bochum today. That too was notable as the fan groups of both clubs have a close friendship with one another.

Initially, it felt like Bochum would be the usual friendly visitors. After all, the Ruhrpott team has only ever beaten Bayern once in Munich. That was in August 1991, when Bochum managed a 2-0 victory at the old Olympiastadion.

“It is simply incredible,” goalscorer Medic said. “To collect three points against Bayern in Munich is a dream come true. It is difficult to describe. A few years ago, I played in Croatia’s fourth division, and today, I managed to help Bochum beat the best team in Europe.

Goalkeeper Timo Horn agreed. “The entire team has to enjoy this victory,” Horn said. “Bochum’s last victory in Munich was in 1991. Most of the team wasn’t even born then.”

Bochum head coach Dieter Hecking was certainly already around in 1991. Although Hecking has lost 16 of his 25 games against Bayern, there have also been some notable wins. The 60-year-old has managed to beat Bayern twice with Gladbach, twice while in charge of Wolfsburg, and twice during his time in Hannover, and now he can add this win with Bochum as well.

“When you win 3-2 in Munich, then, of course, you are very happy,” Hecking said after the game. “You could feel that just now in the dressing room as well. After the equalizer, we started believing in ourselves, and perhaps after making it 3-2, we should have added another to be on the safe side. But we are over the moon about the three points. That wasn’t calculated.”

Those three points certainly put Bochum in a much better place in the relegation race. With St. Pauli drawing Wolfsburg 1-1, Bochum has now reduced the gap to the non-relegation zone to just two points.

Furthermore, the result also doesn’t hurt their friends in Munich. With Leverkusen losing 2-0 at home against Werder Bremen, the gap at the top of the table also remains at eight points. If the title race hadn’t been over before this matchday, it certainly is over now.

Not that Kompany cared about the Leverkusen result. “You’ll probably ask me about Leverkusen losing [to Bremen], but I don’t care,” Kompany said. “So far we always reacted well [to defeats]. It’s important to accept there will be criticism, but we have to focus on the reaction in our next game.”

That next game will be the second leg of the round of 16 against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. With Bayern Munich holding a 3-0 lead after the first leg, that tie is as much over as the Bundesliga title race. Furthermore, with Florian Wirtz walking off the pitch with an injury today, a Leverkusen comeback is even more unlikely.

In some ways, it was a perfect afternoon for Bayern. Their friends from Bochum collected three important points in the relegation battle without hurting Bayern’s title chances. Bayern also got to rest key players, while Leverkusen will be without their biggest star. With that in mind, they might not be too concerned about Bochum’s historic victory.