<span class="titolo">Bundesliga Preview: VfL Bochum – Bayern Munich</span></p> <span class="sommario">Who: VfL Bochum (14th, 9 points) v Bayern Munich (1st, 23 points) When: Saturday October 20th 2007, 15:30 CET Where: Rewirpower Stadion, Bochum</span></p> Bochum face Bayern Munich on Saturday at the Rewirpower Stadion, with a massive uphill task ahead of them if they are to end a poor run of form. Marcell Koller’s side have not won a Bundesliga match in two months, since their 2-1 win over Hamburg on 24th August. The Ruhr side have slumped to 14th in the table and find themselves only three points above the safety zone.</p> The match will see Bayern trainer Ottmar Hitzfeld reunited with one of his former protégées in Bochum trainer Marcell Koller. Koller was the captain of Grasshoppers Zurich when Hitzfeld was in charge between 1988 and 1991. The then midfielder helped the general secure his first two league titles as a coach.</p> However the pair will have to put aside any friendship as both sides go for the three points on Saturday. Koller, who is likely to match the Hitzfeld system with two holding midfielders, has yet to enjoy a victory over his former mentor as a coach. In 2003/04, when the Swiss trainer occupied the hot seat at Cologne, the teams drew 2-2 in Cologne with Bayern winning 2-1 in Munich.</p> Bochum began this season brightly with the team winning two of their first three and drawing the other against Werder. Tommy Bechmann led the scoring charts for a while firing four goals in four games. Things were looking rosy at the Rewirpower Stadion. However six games without a win including four defeats has taken the gloss of that good start.</p> Bayern on the other hand could not have wished for a better start. With the massive investment put into the team, it is hardly a surprise that they are unbeaten in the first 9 games, but the manner of their play and the number of goals they have scored is worth admiration. Hitzfeld’s side cannot afford to become complacent, and the danger is always there that they could slip up away from home when it is least expected.</p> The corresponding fixture last season in Week 2, saw Bayern edge out the home side 2-1 with goals from Roy Makaay and Philipp Lahm. History and current form are both against Bochum. VfL have won only one of the last 21 games against the Bavarians, and have gone six games this season since their last league victory.</p> FORM GUIDE:</p> Bochum: </p> 05 Oct v Borussia Dortmund (A) LOST 2-1 (Bundesliga)</p> 29 Sep v Nürnberg (H) DREW 3-3 (Bundesliga)</p> 26 Sep v Stuttgart (A) LOST 1-0 (Bundesliga)</p> 21 Sep v Eintracht Frankfurt (H) DREW 0-0 (Bundesliga)</p> 15 Sep v Bayer Leverkusen (A) LOST 2-0 (Bundesliga)</p> Bayern Munich: </p> 07 Oct v Nürnberg (H) WON 3-0 (Bundesliga)</p> 04 Oct v Belenenses (A) WON 0-2 (Uefa Cup)</p> 29 Sep v Bayer Leverkusen (A) WON 0-1 (Bundesliga)</p> 26 Sep v Energie Cottbus (H) WON 5-0 (Bundesliga)</p> 23 Sep v Karlsruher (A) WON 1-4 (Bundesliga)</p> Head-to-head record in Bochum:</p> 20 Aug 2006 Bochum 1 Bayern 2</p> 14 Nov 2004 Bochum 1 Bayern 3</p> 14 Feb 2004 Bochum 1 Bayern 0</p> 15 Mar 2003 Bochum 1 Bayern 4</p> 19 Aug 2000 Bochum 0 Bayern 3</p> TEAM NEWS</p> Bochum :</p> Marcell Koller has a near full squad from which to pick except for midfielder Christoph Dabrowski who is out with a broken rib suffered against Borussia Dortmund, and defender Martin Meichelbeck who broke down in training on Thursday with a muscle injury. Koller has not given any indication as to who will replace Dabrowski on Saturday, but possible alternatives are Daniel Imhof and Oliver Schröder. Tactically, the trainer looks set to match the 4-4-2 of Bayern with two holding midfielders.</p> Probable Starting XI: Lastuvka, Concha, Maltritz, Yahia, P. Bönig, Sestak, O. Schröder, Zdebel, Grote, Epalle, Mieciel</p> Bayern Munich:</p> Miroslav Klose looks set to make a quicker recovery than expected and may make a return to the first team. With Luca Toni also likely to be fit, the dream strike force will be reunited to face struggling Bochum. Martin Demichelis has returned from Argentina duty with a slight back strain, but should be fit. Michael Rensing continues to deputise in goal for the injured Oliver Kahn.</p> Probable starting XI: Rensing, Lell, Lucio, Demichelis, Jansen, Hamit Altintop, van Bommel, Zé Roberto, Ribéry, Toni, Klose</p> PLAYERS TO WATCH</p> Bochum:Stanislav Sestak has taken no time at all to settle into life in the Bundesliga and the former MSK Zilina man is showing just why Bochum bought him in the summer. He has four goals already this season and the Slovak international will be looking to continue the good form he showed for his country during the recent Euro 2008 qualifiers.</p> Bayern Munich: Miroslav Klose like Sestak has taken no time at all to settle in at his new club. Eight goals in his first seven games is a great return from the German international striker. On current form it is not beyond the realms of possibility that he will match his tally of 2005/06 when he hit 25 in 26 games for Werder Bremen.</p> PREDICTION: Looking at the form of both sides it is extremely difficult to predict anything other than a Bayern win. The only hope Bochum have I feel, is if a number of the visiting side under perform due to the effects of the midweek internationals. Even taking that into account, Bayern should prove far to strong for Bochum, and an away win will heap more problems onto the shoulders of Marcell Koller.</p> </p> </p>
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