It's been a long time coming. The last Bundesliga clash between FC Bayern and VfL Bochum was played in 2010. After three encounters in the DFB Cup (Three Bayern wins), it's now back to business in the German top flight. fcbayern.com has put together the most important facts and stats ahead of the clash on Matchday 5 for you.
1. Pacy dribblers go head-to-head
With a top speed of 36.08 km/h, Alphonso Davies is the fastest player in the current Bundesliga season so far. The Canadian loves using that speed with the ball at his feet. With 19 successful one-on-one dribbles, Davies also heads up these stats as well as the list of dribbles against multiple opponents, which he’s attempted five times. He's followed by his team-mate Serge Gnabry and Bochum's Gerrit Holtmann with four dribbles each against multiple opponents.
2. Welcome visitors
FC Bayern and VfL Bochum have been bound by a fan friendship for many years. Perhaps that's why the visitors usually leave Munich empty-handed. At home, the record champions have lost only one of their 34 league games against the newly-promoted team (25 wins, 8 draws) - this defeat dates back to 28 August 1991 (2-0). Bayern have won all six of their last competitive matches against the Ruhr valley side - the only longer run of wins they've had against them was from 1978 to 1982 (eight).
3. In-form FCB
FC Bayern have won all of their last three Bundesliga games - the last time they went on a winning streak like that was from February to April, when they celebrated five straight wins. Ten points from the first four games also mean the best start to a season since 2018/19 (12).
4. Bochum with stuttering start
VfL Bochum have picked up just three points from their four Bundesliga games so far this season (1 win, 3 defeats). The newly-promoted side have lost both of their away games of the current campaign so far.
5. Fortress Allianz Arena
FC Bayern are unbeaten in 29 Bundesliga home games since November 2019 (24 wins, 5 draws) and have won all of their last five games at the Allianz Arena. The last time the Reds had such a long run without losing at home was from March 2016 to April 2018 (38 games), and they also had a longer winning streak from February to October 2020 (9 games).
6. Goretzka’s boyhood club
On Thursday, Leon Goretzka extended his contract with FC Bayern until 2026, but it was with the upcoming visitors that his career began. The 26-year-old progressed through the Bochum youth system. After making his first 36 senior appearances for VfL in 2012/13, he moved to FC Schalke, before arriving in Bavaria in 2018. Since then, he's only come up against his former club in one competitive match: Bayern's 2-1 win in the DFB Cup 2nd round in October 2019.
7. On-fire Musiala
Jamal Musiala has been directly involved in four goals in the league this season (2 goals, 2 assists) - an achievement bettered at FCB only by Best FIFA Men's Player Robert Lewandowski (6 goals, 2 assists).
On Thursday, Leon Goretzka held a joint press conference with Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidžić to officially anounce his contract extension:
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