Bochum vs. Bayern Munich: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog!

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Bochum were thrashed 7-0 by Bayern early in the 2021/22 campaign, but have slowly found their groove following an 11-year absence from the Bundesliga. Thomas Reis' side have 25 points to show for the first 21 matches of the season, putting them three clear of the relegation play-off spot and seven ahead of the automatic drop zone. They were held by Cologne and Hertha Berlin in their last two, but are looking like good value for another season of top-tier football. Sebastian Polter came off the bench to score the equalising goal against Hertha, and could be preferred to Jürgen Locadia in attack. Anthony Losilla is also fit and raring to go, with Robert Tesche set to drop out of the midfield. Striker Simon Zoller - who hasn't played since September - remains on the sidelines.

Lewandowski was among the Bayern goalscorers on Matchday 5. The reigning FIFA Best Men's Player has netted at least once in 11 of 16 Bundesliga games since, including last weekend's 3-2 triumph over RB Leipzig, to swell his tally to a league-leading 24 goals. Bayern moved nine points clear courtesy of that win, coupled with Borussia Dortmund's loss to Bayer Leverkusen, but the result came at a cost. Captain Manuel Neuer suffered an injury that required knee surgery, and has been ruled out for at least four weeks. Understudy Sven Ulreich was a doubt earlier in the week, but appears to be in line to start. However, head coach Julian Nagelsmann is definitely without Jamal Musiala. The teenager is in isolation, joining left-back Alphonso Davies and fellow midfielder Leon Goretzka on the sidelines.

Match stats

Polter is Bochum's top scorer by some distance on seven goals. The only German player in the Bundesliga with more this season is Bayern's Serge Gnabry (10).

Manuel Riemann is third in the division for saves made (77), keeping five of his six clean sheets this season at home.

Since conceding seven in Munich on Matchday 5 - Bochum's heaviest defeat at professional level - the promoted side have only shipped more than two goals in one game (vs. Leipzig). The 14 they've conceded over the last 14 games is also the fewest in the league together with Bayern.

Lewandowski's 24 goals this season has him one short of his total at the same stage last term as he went on to score a record 41. His tally after Matchday 22 was 26.

Neuer concedes on average every 122 minutes in the Bundesliga with Bayern; Ulreich does every 94.

Bayern haven't lost away at a promoted club in 24 games going back to August 2010 (W23, D1). Their sole defeat at Bochum in the last 35 years came almost exactly 18 years ago (1-0 on 14 February 2004).

Probable line-ups

Bochum: Esser - Gamboa, Bella-Kotchap, Leitsch, Soares - Rexhbecaj, Losilla (c), Löwen - Pantovic, Polter, Holtmann

Out: Blum (muscular), Riemann (not included), Zoller (knee)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Thomas Reis

Bayern: Ulreich - Pavard, Upamecano, Hernandez - Gnabry, Kimmich, Tolisso, Coman - Müller (c), Sane - Lewandowski

Out: Davies (heart), Goretzka (knee), Musiala (not included), Neuer (knee), Stanisic (thigh)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Julian Nagelsmann