Bayern Munich show rare glimpse of vulnerability ahead of Red Bull Salzburg Champions League last-16 tie

If Red Bull Salzburg need inspiration ahead of their Champions League last-16 tie against Bayern Munich, they need only look 400-odd miles north-east across the German border to Bochum. A former coal mining hub at the heart of the Ruhr region which struggled through the era of deindustrialisation, Bochum has survived more than its fair share of adversity over the years.

As in life, so in football: VfL Bochum are a source of fierce local pride, but, having bounced between the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga since the early nineties, they had spent 11 years in the German second division before being promoted as champions last season.

Ad/> As such, when Bayern arrived at the Ruhrstadion on Saturday, even the most optimistic Bochumers must have found themselves contemplating the idea of defeat. Julian Nagelsmann’s side had won 7-0 in the reverse fixture at the Allianz Arena in September, a chastening experience for the pre-season relegation favourites.

BundesligaBayern Munich humbled in shock defeat at Bochum12/02/2022 AT 13:34 Instead, Bochum caused an upset which sporting director Sebastian Schindzielorz called “a new game of the century”. While the match seemed to be following the expected pattern when Robert Lewandowski bundled over the line early on, a well-taken goal from Christopher Antwi-Adjei, a penalty scored by Jurgen Locadia and a couple of absolute screamers from Cristian Gamboa and Gerrit Holtmann gave the hosts a 4-1 lead before the half-time whistle had even gone.

Despite threatening a late fightback when Lewandowski scored another late on, it proved to be a consolation for the reigning champions. Bochum held out for only their second win against Bayern since the turn of the millennium and their first since