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DFB Pokal Preview: VfL Bochum vs. Bayern Munich

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The Bavarian giants will be looking to end the year on a high with a win over the second division side in Round 3 of the competition.
Bayern Munich will travel to the rewirpower Stadium on Tuesday in search of a win in the third round of the German Cup. They downed Eintracht Braunschweig and FC Ingolstadt in the previous rounds of the competition and will be
looking to seal their place in the quarter-finals before the winter break starts.
VfL Bochum
The Bochum based club has had a poor season this time around and are currently placed ninth on the 2.Bundesliga table with 24 points from the 19 games played. Their form is nowhere near to that of last season when they ended up
in third place and lost the relegation play-off against Borussia Monchengladbach and ended up staying in the second division.
The Unrelegatables defeated Hansa Rostock in the first round on penalties and got the better of SpVgg Unterhaching in Round 2 with an impressive 4-1 score line.
Bayern Munich
The Bavarian giants have been in inspired form all season and have proved yet again that they are the team to beat in German football. The side is currently leading the Bundesliga standings table and has sealed qualification to
the next round in the Champions League after winning the ‘Group of Death’.
Bayern brushed aside Eintracht Braunschweig 3-0 in an away game in the first round and were again worthy winners against FC Ingolstadt at the Allianz Arena with a 6-0 score line.
Team News
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/VfL-Bochum-c40880
Bochum midfield duo http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Faton-Toski-c13417 and Christoph Kramer are doubtful for the match after suffering respective injuries in the previous match. North Korean international Jong Tae-Se is expected to lead the attack for the home side
whereas Takashi Inui will play in the attacking midfield position.
Bayern Munich
Winger Franck Ribery is out of the clash after his sending off against FC Koln in the recent Bundesliga fixture. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arjen-Robben-c6521 is expected to make a start to regain full fitness after spending weeks on the sideline through injury.
Striker Mario Gomez will be rested and Nils Petersen will be given a chance to prove his credentials.
Players to watch
Takashi Inui
The Japanese midfielder has been a revelation for Bochum this season and has already scored five times in the league for the side. The player will have a lot of responsibility on his young shoulders in the absence of Toski and
Kramer and will be looking to further cement his place in the side with another impressive performance.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ivica-Olic-c17399
The Croatian international has fallen down the pecking order after an injury early in the season and is finding it very hard to make a comeback because of the sensational form Mario Gomez has been. The striker has a great chance
to impress Jupp Heynckes with his performance in the clash after speculation of a January exit.
Prediction
The Munich giants are expected to win this easily with a
3-0 score line. The visitors have been in stunning form off-late and still have the quality in their squad to progress to the next round despite injury to some of the main players. The home side’s poor form will further help the former Bundesliga
champions who will be looking to end the year on a winning note.