Bayern Munich vs Bochum

Bayern Munich’s pursuit of a record-extending 11th successive Bundesliga title continues at the Allianz Arena against bottom-half strugglers Bochum.

The record-time German champions opened the new calendar year with three identical 1-1 draws and looked on the verge of imploding under pressure before a 4-2 demolition of Wolfsburg on the road last time out. Back to winning ways for the first time since beating Schalke 2-0 away from home in November, the ‘Bavarians’ come into this round as one of only three Bundesliga sides to have gone unbeaten in all nine home league outings this term (W5, D4). That said, Julian Nagelsmann’s men have drawn their last two top-flight fixtures at the Allianz Arena, although it’s worth noting they’ve scored 3+ goals in five of six previous home league matches against Bochum (W4, D2).

On the other hand, visiting Bochum thrashed TSG Hoffenheim 5-2 at home last weekend, but they slumped to a 2-1 DFB-Pokal defeat to Borussia Dortmund in midweek. Another underwhelming result is seemingly waiting in the wings, with ‘Die Unabsteigbaren’ losing a league-high nine of their ten top-flight games on the road this term (W1), including the last two by multi-goal margins. Worryingly for head coach Thomas Letsch, his men lost 7-0 to Bayern Munich earlier this season, with the same scoreline deciding this corresponding fixture in 2021/22. Interestingly, though, the visitors have claimed two wins in three Bundesliga encounters against a side sitting at the top since earning top-flight promotion last season. Yet both those victories have come at home, while Bochum have never beaten a current Bundesliga pacesetter away from home in any of their 26 previous attempts.