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Bochum 1-5 Bayern Munich: Five-Star Bayern Move Second
Bayern built on their momentum with a stunning performance in Bochum on Saturday...
| Bet: | Returns: | FC St. Pauli £17.50 | Draw £36.00 | VfL Bochum £45.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | FC St. Pauli £17.30 | Draw £36.00 | VfL Bochum £43.30 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | FC St. Pauli £16.67 | Draw £34.00 | VfL Bochum £43.33 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | FC St. Pauli £17.30 | Draw £37.50 | VfL Bochum £45.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | FC St. Pauli £17.30 | Draw £34.00 | VfL Bochum £44.00 |
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Dec 12, 2009 4:28:18 PM
Bochum lined up in a 4-5-1 setup that has featured in their last four league matches, only one of which has resulted in defeat. Stanislav Sestak started as the lone striker in a very defensive tactical setup. Surprisingly, Mimoun Azaouagh was left on the bench at the start.
Bayern coach Louis van Gaal opted to field the same starting lineup that hammered Juventus 4-1 in midweek Arjen Robben was again limited to a substitute's role, and Franck Ribery and Miroslav Klose were excluded from the matchday squad.
In the opening minutes, Bayern, as expected, won the majority of possession. Although their pace and intensity was not up to par with the match in Turin, the Bavarians played with more confidence than in recent weeks, and were generally quicker to the ball.
Bochum were physical in defense and tended to be well organized at the back, although their clearances were often questionable. The result was that Bayern had a good share of possession in their attacking third, but faced many blue and white shirts, and had trouble creating the cleaving pass to set up a goal.
The first good opportunity on goal was as much given by Bochum as it was earned by Bayern. Christian Fuchs lost concentration and conceded possession to Mark van Bommel before Danijel Pranjic struck a fine curling effort towards goal. Philipp Heerwagen reacted to make a fine save and deny an opening goal.
Bochum's luck would not last long. In the 23rd minute, Bayern scored a fine opener as Ivica Olic crossed for Mario Gomez, who struck with the full confidence on an in-form striker, and buried his fourth goal in as many games.
After the goal, Bochum had absolutely no response. Their few attacking moves came up the left side, and to be fair, Zlatko Dedic did well individually, but needed more support to have any chance of helping his team equalize.
Bochum's defense continued to look susceptible, and it took only ten minutes before it conceded once again. Shortly after the half hour mark, Gomez sent a rather non-threatening cross in Olic' direction, but Mergim Mavraj was first to the ball. To his dismay, Mavraj failed to clear and instead put the ball into his own net.
Heiko Herrlich needed change, and fast, and after the second goal substituted Azaouagh in place of Paul Freier. The Moroccan-born attacker was a surprise omission from the starting eleven, and was brought on as a tactical substitution.
In the first half, the only half-chance that Bochum earned came in the 42nd minute, when Dedic was found open on the left side of the penalty area. He hesitated before taking a first-touch shot, which he scuffed wide of the near post.
Seconds later, Bayern made it 3-0 with their most elaborate attacking move of the afternoon. Philipp Lahm dribbled up the right side, cut inward and pierced through to Schweinsteiger, who was unmarked. As Heerwagen ran off his line, the German international crossed to Olic, who tapped into an empty net.
At the half, Bayern were in full control of the match, and Bochum were forced to reconsider their approach as they looked to take at least some pride from the game.
After the break, the match continued exactly as it had been at the end of the first half. Just over a minute into the half, Olic blasted an effort from distance that Heerwagen did well to save. After some prolonged Bayern pressure, a blocked clearance fell to Holger Badstuber's feet, and the 20-year old crossed towards a wide-open Olic, who made no mistakes in heading in to complete his brace.
Six minutes later, Lahm was involved in yet another attacking movement, as he dribbled into the penalty area and had his shot blocked. The loose ball fell to Pranjic, who blasted a shot in to make it 5-0.
To make matters worse for Bochum, Arjen Robben came on for Schweinsteiger after the Pranjic goal, and Bayern switched to a 4-3-3 setup.
After taking a 5-0 lead, Bayern went into containment mode, and even the forwards could be occasionally found in their defending half. Bochum continued to show nearly no signs of life, but Bayern, led by Robben, had a few decent opportunities of their own. Most notably, Robben's 71st minute effort was denied by an excellent Heerwagen save, and late efforts from the Dutchman and substitute Anatoliy Tymoshchuk came close, but were not quite enough.
Out of thin air, Bochum earned a consolation goal through Christian Fuchs. After the home side won a free kick on the right wing, Fuchs floated a cross towards the back post, which managed to dip downward and into the net.
Bochum had another great chance in the 84th minute when, capitalizing on some lax defending, Vahid Hashemian was able to dribble into the center of the penalty area and shoot on goal. Hans-Joerg Butt made an excellent save, and was able to block Marc Pfertzel's follow-up off the post. As he attempted to reacht he ball, Pfertzel realized the flag had been raised for offside, and the chance went begging.
With the match decided long before, the final whistle was blown on the stroke of full time, as Bayern went second, if only for a few hours.
Clark Whitney, Goal.com
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