Bayern Munich beat Bochum in a squad reunion | Match Recap

Patrick Fabian said before the game this could be the one game in 100 that Bayern Munich could lose. Bochum did not beat those odds, the 17-time champions of the German cup advancing to their seventh-straight semifinal on Wednesday. It was the uncomfortable match Pep Guardiola thought it would be – one that nearly took a bad turn early in the match – but a positive reunion of crucial players to the squad.

That turn is one Simon Terrode could have caused. The Bochum striker, who had a hat trick in the first round of the Cup, beat David Alaba on a long ball from Tim Hoogland, but sliced the shot wide. Terrode nearly got the better of Alaba a second time, Janik Haberer switching the ball to Terrode on the opposite end of the penalty area, but the 27-year-old striker could not find the target again.

Bayern were able to establish their rhythm after two early scares, but remnants of their grind draw against Bayer Leverkusen were still in their play. Midfield turnovers from Thiago Alcantara deflated Bayern's build-up play, and quick fouls from Arjen Robben prevented the Dutchman from manufacturing a chance. Robert Lewandowski was finally able to break free not long before halftime, playing a one-two with Thomas Müller before finishing off of the far post. Müller could not give Bayern some breathing room though after Arjen Robben drew a penalty on Jan Simunek, firing the penalty right in the direction goalkeeper Thomas Reimann was leaning.

Though Bochum played with 10 men after Simunek was sent off for denying Robben a goal scoring opportunity, the 2. Bundesliga club was not going to fold so easily. They had already suffocated one Munich-based club in the cup, and they did their best to do the same to Bayern. Defenders monitored Lewandowski every time he stepped into the penalty area, and Arjen Robben drew two players towards him every time he got the ball on the right wing. The attention the two drew opened up Müller for a run into the penalty area at the hour mark, and he was able to pick out Thiago Alcantara to double the scoreline.

With a two goal lead, the burden the game had thrust on to Bayern's shoulders was partially lifted. Robben began to look like the player of old, creating space with his pace before picking out Müller for a chance and dribbling by two players before setting up Douglas Costa for a sitter. Neither player could finish their chances, but Bochum's inability to overcome a man disadvantage made their missed opportunities mean a little less.

As the match became more firmly in hand, Pep Guardiola brought injured squad players Rafinha and Juan Bernat back into the fold. The two wing defenders – who both had yet to play in 2016 due to injury – reinforced order to the midfield as Bayern saw out the result. Guardiola even was able to give Holger Badstuber a rest, Arturo Vidal coming on for the central defender who was making his fifth straight start after his thigh injury. Vidal was responsible for the final chance of the match, winning the ball in midfield before Robben slashed it to Lewandowski for an easy finish.

Bayern advance to their seventh straight semifinal, joining Hertha Berlin, Borussia Dortmund, and Werder Bremen in the final four. They find out their semifinal opponent on Wednesday night.

Match Details

Bochum (0-3) Bayern Munich

FCB: Robert Lewandowski (38', 90'), Thiago Alcantara (61')
Red Card: Jan Simunek (43')

Bochum XI: Reimann – Celozzi, Fabian, Bastians, Perthel (Simunek 29')  – Losilla, Hoogland – Bulut, Eisfeld (Cacutalua 46'), Haberer – Terrode (Malta 64')

Bayern XI: Neuer – Lahm (Bernat 75'), Kimmich, Badstuber (Vidal 80'), Alaba – Alonso (Rafinha 64') – Robben, Thiago, Müller, Douglas – Lewandowski