5-star Bayern reclaim top spot after brilliant victory against Bochum

Bayern Munich swept aside VfL Bochum 5-0 on Sunday to head back to the top of the Bundesliga.

Vincent Kompany’s team were beaten 4-1 by Barcelona in the Champions League in midweek but bounced back in style at Vonovia Ruhrstadion.

Michael Olise put them ahead with a fantastic free-kick in the 16th minute, with in-form Jamal Musiala heading home a second soon after.

Apart from an early chance that was cleared off the line by Kim Min-Jae, Bochum were no match for Bayern’s power and the visitors struck three more times after the break.

Harry Kane grabbed a customary goal before Leroy Sane got in on the act, and Kingsley Coman rounded off the victory.

Speaking after the game, Vincent revealed in a post match interview how his side played very seriously in the game. 

“We lost here twice in the past three years, so there was no underestimating of the opponent,” Kompany said.

“We conceded a big chance early in the first half, but I liked the fact that we stayed calm.” He added.

Bayern are on 20 points, ahead of second-placed RB Leipzig on goal difference.

Champions Bayer Leverkusen are in third place on 15. Bochum remain anchored in last place with one point from eight games. 

Bayern have now scored 29 league goals this season, the joint-highest tally after eight games of a Bundesliga campaign.

This  win also established the fact that Vincent Kompany, who had been criticised for Champions League defeats to Aston Villa and Barcelona, became the first coach in Bundesliga history whose team has netted 29 times in his first eight league games in charge.

The Belgian, who succeeded Thomas Tuchel, is in his first season in Munich.

Only the Bavarians themselves have previously scored as many goals at this stage of a top-flight campaign, also doing so in 2021-22 and 1976-77.

Bayern ended the game with 19 shots, getting 10 of those on target, and having amassed 2.33 expected goals (xG) to Bochum’s 0.56