Minnows VfL Bochum hope to pull off a massive upset by knocking Bayern Munich out of the German Cup quarter-finals tomorrow to wreck Pep Guardiola’s dreams of winning the treble.
Second-division Bochum host runaway Bundesliga leaders, who plan to mark coach Pep Guardiola’s departure in May to Manchester City with the trio of German league, German Cup and Champions League titles.
It will hardly come as a surprise, but the stats are stacked against Bochum, who have won only nine of their 73 games against Bayern, losing 48 times.
It was back in 2004 that the Bavarians last lost in Bochum, while few fans from either club need reminding of when Bayern fought back from 4-0 down to win 6-5 at Bochum in 1976-77.
Bochum have not conceded a goal in any of their last four second-tier matches, but have their work cut out subduing Bayern’s star-studded attack, even though it misfired in Saturday’s goalless draw at Leverkusen in Germany’s top flight.
The Bavarians last failed to reach the German Cup semi-finals in 1988.
“Bayern win 99 of 100 games, but perhaps Wednesday is the one,” said Bochum captain Patrick Fabian.
The Ruhr Valley club, who are fifth in Germany’s second tier, have nothing to lose against Guardiola’s team of superstars. “We’re highly motivated, looking forward to the game and want to enjoy it,” said Bochum’s playmaker Marco Terrazzino.
Bayern hope to include Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal, who came off with a leg knock at Leverkusen on Saturday after a foul from Stefan Kiessling.
New signing Serdar Tasci should also be fit having suffered a concussion last Wednesday in his first training session since joining Bayern on loan until the end of the season.
But Bochum will be in for a rude surprise if they expect Bayern to be distracted for the Cup quarter-final.
“From now on, we’re just focused on this game. The cup is very important to us as well,” said Bayern’s hot-shot striker Robert Lewandowski, who has scored 27 goals in all competitions this season.
Bochum are not the only second division team bidding to reach the German Cup semi-finals with Heidenheim hosting Hertha Berlin today.
In the other ties today, Bayer Leverkusen host Werder Bremen, the same day resurgent VfB Stuttgart, who have won all of their last four league games, are at home to Borussia Dortmund for a place in the semi-finals on April 19-20.