Bayern eye title redemption as Bundesliga race enters last straight

Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane scores third objective from the penalty spot through the first leg match towards Bayer Leverkusen within the Champions League Spherical of 16 on March 5, 2025, in Allianz Area, Munich, Germany.
| Picture Credit score: Reuters

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 successful 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 turned the primary group in historical past to win the Bundesliga unbeaten.

However 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 dwelling match towards their relegation-threatened opponents might seem like a formality for a Bayern aspect who’ve received 9 of their previous 10, however Bochum have been deceptively robust in latest weeks.

Since veteran Dieter Hecking was given the job of salvaging first-division soccer for the then last-placed group 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 below Hecking.

Talking Thursday, the grizzled veteran Hecking stated his aspect wanted to chart a course in between brash conceitedness and humble acceptance towards the German giants.

“I am not going to behave like a sensible ass and say ‘We’ll win’,” Hecking advised reporters.

“We all know the place we stand within the pecking order. I am solely involved about our personal efficiency.

“I am a realist. However 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.

Nonetheless 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 competition.

Participant 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 to date for Bochum — coming final weekend at Hoffenheim.

If the 31-year-old attacker can increase his objective tally over the course of the run-in, Bochum may 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 dwelling group received final matchday, with eight away group victories and a draw — a Bundesliga first

3 – Augsburg have conceded simply three league targets in 2025 — the bottom mark of any group in Europe

Fixtures (1430 GMT until said):

Saturday

Wolfsburg v St Pauli, Bayern Munich v Bochum, Holstein Kiel v Stuttgart, Borussia Dortmund v Augsburg, Bayer Leverkusen v Werder Bremen, Freiburg v RB Leipzig (1730)

Sunday

Eintracht Frankfurt v Union Berlin, Hoffenheim v Heidenheim (1630)