Bayern reach German Cup semifinals

Bochum 0-3 Bayern Munich
(Lewandowski 39', 90', Thiago 61')

Bayern Munich may not have been at their very best at the Ruhrstadion on Wednesday night in a 3-0 win over Bochum in the German Cup quarterfinals, but Pep Guardiola's side did just enough to overcome their stubborn hosts.

Following a lacklustre 0-0 draw against Bayer Leverkusen a few days before in the Bundesliga, Guardiola's side once again didn't look up to the task of dominating a match when Bochum took the game to them in the opening 30 minutes.

Bochum midfielder Thomas Eisfeld enjoyed plenty of time and space in the opening exchanges between the two sides as the game went from box to box, and found his striker Simon Terodde on three separate occasions behind the Bayern defence. The striker – who has scored 10 league goals this season – failed to convert any of his chances but proved that the German champions could be exposed.

Yet when Bayern look most vulnerable, they often tend to take the lead and that is exactly what happened when Thomas Müller found an unmarked Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker, often so composed in front of goal but strangely quiet before scoring, gladly took the ball and fired the opener in off the back post of Manuel Riemann's goal.

Five minutes later the Munich side had a golden opportunity to double their lead when Arjen Robben hit the ground from the faintest of touches from Jan Simunek. The defender was harshly sent off but the home side were afforded some justice when Müller saw his shot pushed on to the cross bar by Riemann.

Bayern went in to the break with a slight lead and one-man advantage to boot.

Unfortunately for Gertjan Verbeek's side things didn't get any easier in the second half. With a man missing, Bayern's dominance began to take its toll on the home side and just after the hour mark Bochum's defense was once again carved open. Robben's chipped pass found Muller out right and the Germany international ran to the line before pulling the ball back for the on-running Thiago to finish the move.

A second assist for Muller on a night in which Bayern rarely stepped out of first gear and a timely reminder to his manager that he may well have been what was missing in the previous fixture.

The match then descended into no more than a training excercise, despite the best efforts of the home support. Xabi Alonso was pulled off three minutes after the second goal for Rafinha, with Juan Bernat and Arturo Vidal later joining the clash for Philipp Lahm and Holger Badstuber respectively.

Lewandowski concluded the evening's competition when Vidal's interception allowed Robben to turn and play through the striker to calmly slot home for his second on the night - and his 29th in all competitions this season.

A professional job from the Bavarian giants saw them progress to their seventh consecutive semifinal in the German Cup.