Embarrassment in the Ruhr area: The crisis at the badly hit FC Bayern is getting worse after the next bankruptcy – the pressure on coach Thomas Tuchel is also increasing.
At the clear outsiders VfL Bochum, the Munich team conceded a sobering 2:3 (1:2) after another poor performance and suffered their third competitive defeat in a row. Bayer Leverkusen is now eight points ahead at the top of the Bundesliga table, and the defending champions are no longer in control of their 12th championship in a row.
Takuma Asano (38th), Keven Schlotterbeck (44th) and Kevin Stöger (78th) caused a sensation with a penalty kick for Bayern’s actual opponents, Bochum. Jamal Musiala (14th) initially put the favorites in the lead. To make matters worse, Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano also saw a yellow-red card (77′). Harry Kane only shortened the gap with his 25th goal of the season (87th). In the Champions League, Bayern are threatened with an early exit after the 0-1 defeat in Rome, which will mean the first titleless season for the club, which is used to success, in twelve years.
FC Bayern ice cold at the start
In the run-up to the game, which was once again accompanied by massive fan protests, Tuchel pushed aside concerns about his future. “It makes no sense to worry about it,” he said on DAZN. There is an atmosphere at the record champions “as if we were in a relegation place. But we won’t talk everything into rubble internally.”
Compared to the game in Rome, Tuchel made two substitutions. Surprisingly, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting started for Leroy Sane, who, according to Tuchel, had been struggling with “pain in the patellar tendon for weeks” and came off the bench. Upamecano, who had already been sent off with a red card in Rome, also stayed out initially; Matthijs de Ligt started for him.
The reaction Tuchel was hoping for was a long time coming; the hosts had their first chance in the constant rain in Bochum with a header from captain Anthony Losilla (6th). The favorite had more possession of the ball, but like recently there were few ideas on offense at the beginning.
But Bayern improved – and struck ice cold. First Musiala failed in his attempt, the former Bochum player Leon Goretzka intercepted the rebound and passed it on to Musiala, who hit the ball with force into the short corner. Bayern were now more present, Musiala served Harry Kane with a dream pass, the striker was free in front of Bochum keeper Manuel Riemann – and shot clearly over (19th).
Bavaria in shock after protests
Protests followed. At first the Bochum fans kept throwing tennis balls onto the grass, when everything seemed to have been discarded, the Bayern supporters started. The first break lasted a total of 13 minutes, and the stadium announcer also warned the fans that the game would be stopped if more balls were thrown.
From the break, VfL shocked Bayern. Losilla claimed the ball strongly in midfield and sent Asano down the left. The Japanese brought the ball past Manuel Neuer with a powerful shot to equalize.
The Bochum team were better in this phase. Egged on by the loudly celebrating audience in the Ruhrstadion, Schlotterbeck rose highest after a corner and headed Bochum’s lead.
After halftime there was the next break with tennis balls: During the nine-minute break, referee Daniel Schlager (Hügelsheim) sent the teams into the dressing room. As the game continued, Bayern pressed, but once again there was a lack of lightness, even if Tuchel took risks with a few substitutions. Bochum, on the other hand, defended with passion and made it 3-1 with a penalty before Kane scored. Bayern now pushed, but without success.