With greater than two thirds of the season performed, in-form Bayern Munich are eight factors clear atop the desk and have their sights set on profitable again the Bundesliga title. The Bavarians host lowly Bochum in Munich on Saturday, with 10 video games remaining within the Bundesliga season. Bayern’s streak of 11 straight title wins was damaged by a rampant Bayer Leverkusen final season, who grew to become the primary crew in historical past to win the Bundesliga unbeaten. But with Leverkusen nicely again in second — and with Vincent Kompany’s costs having thumped Xabi Alonso’s males 3-0 within the Champions League final 16 first leg on Wednesday — Bayern look set to re-establish home supremacy.
Saturday’s house match towards their relegation-threatened opponents could seem like a formality for a Bayern aspect who’ve gained 9 of their previous 10, however Bochum have been deceptively robust in current weeks.
Since veteran Dieter Hecking was given the job of salvaging first-division soccer for the then last-placed crew in November, Bochum have kick-started an unlikely redemption story of their very own.
Bochum have since overwhelmed Borussia Dortmund and drawn with Leverkusen and RB Leipzig, and now sit within the relegation playoff spot on 17 factors — 16 of which have been picked up underneath Hecking.
Speaking Thursday, the grizzled veteran Hecking mentioned his aspect wanted to chart a course in between brash vanity and humble acceptance towards the German giants.
“I’m not going to behave like a wise ass and say ‘We’ll win’,” Hecking instructed reporters.
“We know the place we stand within the pecking order. I’m solely involved about our personal efficiency.
“I’m a realist. But we should not be too humble or make ourselves small. We should play actively and never simply roll over.”
Leverkusen host struggling Werder Bremen on Saturday as they try to preserve their slim hopes alive of chasing down Bayern.
Still licking their wounds from Wednesday’s thrashing in Munich, Leverkusen face a Bremen aspect who’ve misplaced 5 video games in a row to slip out of European rivalry.
Player to look at: Georgios Masouras
A fast-fire brace from new Greek loanee Masouras delivered Hecking and Bochum their very important three factors towards Borussia Dortmund in mid-February.
Masouras, a Greece worldwide, arrived on the finish of the January switch window from Olympiakos and has tasted defeat solely as soon as in his 4 outings thus far for Bochum — coming final weekend at Hoffenheim.
If the 31-year-old attacker can enhance his purpose tally over the course of the run-in, Bochum might fancy their probabilities of registering some extra shock outcomes earlier than the tip of the season and reeling in St Pauli, who lie 4 factors forward of them in security.
Key stats
30 – Harry Kane has scored 30 penalties in succession for membership and nation relationship again to the 2022 World Cup.
0 from 9 – No house crew gained final matchday, with eight away crew victories and a draw — a Bundesliga first
3 – Augsburg have conceded simply three league targets in 2025 — the bottom mark of any crew in Europe
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