Blue and Whites triumph against Bayern

Incredible! For the first time since 2004, VfL Bochum 1848 beat the famous Bayern Munich! In an exhilarating encounter, Antwi-Adjei, Locadia, Gamboa and Holtmann scored for the boys in floodlight blue. Lewandowski’s brace didn’t make a difference, what an afternoon!

For our home clash against the German record champions, who are on their way to their 10^th consecutive title, VfL Bochum head coach Thomas Reis decided to replace Asano, Tesche and Pantovic with skipper Toto Losilla, Antwi-Adjei and Osterhage.

Both teams were forced to make do without their regular goalkeeper with Manuel Neuer out due to knee operation, he was replaced by Ulreich. VfL Bochum’s Manuel Riemann, who tested positive for covid in midweek, made way for Michael “Bruno” Esser, who made his second home start after the DFB-Pokal victory with over Augsburg.

With a power cut disabling the video screen and the floodlights, the match was still kicked off on time with VfL Bochum in their floodlight-blue kit starting with confidence and putting some nice moves together. After four minutes, Holtmann received the ball inside the box but his waist-high cross was missed by everyone and saved by Ulreich.

Out of the blue, a long ball down the left was not decisively dealt with by Cristian Gamboa and two crosses were only half cleared by the Bochum defence before Lewandowski tried to shoot with his left foot, recovered the ball and poked home from eight yards after nine minutes.

But the Boys in Blue shrugged off this shock when Locadia put a long ball down the left wing where Holtmann outpaced his defender before hitting a pinpoint low cross to Antwi-Adjei who controlled the ball, skipped past Süle and hit a low shot into the bottom left corner. 1-1 after 15 minutes.

The gloves were off in a pacey and intense encounter with both teams going for the jugular now. In the 18^th minute, Gamboa got in a last-gasp block against Coman – this was vital! The ensuing corner bent dangerously but Bruno Esser managed to palm it away.

After 31 minutes, the visitors seemed certain to score when Lewandowski hit a bicycle kick from eight yards out, but it was that man Gamboa again who scraped the ball off the goal line.

In the 35^th minute Locadia picked out Holtmann but our speedy winger saw his cross collected by Ulreich. It took Gerrit Holtmann just 60 seconds to make amends, though, when he sped down the left wing before his cross was stopped by the hand of Upamecano – penalty! Jürgen Locadia placed the ball on the spot before slotting it into the bottom left corner – 2-1!

Just one minute later, the stadium was shaking after right-back Cristian Gamboa nutmegged Tolisso on the right wing before playing a one-two with Osterhage and forcing his way. Gambo, not exactly a goal machine so far, whacked the ball with his right foot from the edge of the box and saw it rocket past Ulreich into the far top corner. Surely the goal of the month and 3-1!

VfL Bochum were riding the crest of a wave now and it wasn’t over yet! After 43 minutes, a long ball found Gerrit Holtmann – again – on the left edge of the box. Gerrit controlled it with his first touch onto his weaker right foot and let fly with his second – where else but the far top corner? No chance for Ulreich and 4-1 for the Boys in Blue!

After a first half to remember, Bayern brought on Tolisso for Upamecano changing their formation to play a higher pressing line, but it was VfL Bochum with the first chance. Holtmann – who else – intercepted a back pass and tried to chip the ball past Ulreich but the keeper deflected it for a corner.

After 48 minutes, Bochum seemed to have the game wrapped up when Antwi-Adjei converted a cross by Holtmann but it was deemed offside.

Bayern were throwing men forward and in the 53^rd minute, Lewandowski was clean through, avoided Bruno Esser’s dive and got his shot from five yards – only to see Armel Bella-Kotchap rush back and block the ball on the line.

The game was intense with VfL Bochum defending with passion and discipline but also always looking for a chance to break and Bayern exerting tons of pressure with Choupo-Moting coming on as an extra striker.

Stafylidis came on for the exhausted Cristian Gamboa after 72 minutes and Lewandowski reduced the deficit from eight yards after 75 minutes. The pressure was still on but the Blue defensive line held with Thomas Reis sending Polter, Asano and Pantovic on for Locadia, Holtmann and Antwi-Adjei for the final 13 minutes.

In the 86^th minute, Lewandowski curled a free kick over the wall, but it rebounded off the crossbar and the Bochum defence got to the ball to clear it for the corner. From the corner-kick, the ball found Gnabry just five yards out, but two Bochum defenders closed in on him quickly and the German international could only hit the outside of the net.

Bayern had fired their last bullet and, with Erhan Masovic replacing the industrious Elvis Rexhbecaj, VfL calmly saw out the remainder of the match despite three minutes of added time.

On a golden day, the team displayed bags of willpower and tactical prowess in an excellent performance to earn three points that nobody expected. VfL Bochum sit on 28 points now before we travel to troubled VfB Stuttgart for another match we do not want to lose.

But today belongs to the team in floodlight blue that received a deserved standing ovation from the 8,500 fans who were lucky enough to get a ticket. We are sure, VfL Bochum fans all over the world will be celebrating a tremendous win in a tremendous match.