The hosts initially looked disjointed to start the game, following 10 changes to the starting lineup that demolished Leverkusen 3-0 in midweek UEFA Champions League action.
But they still found the breakthrough after 14 minutes, thanks to a moment of magic from Raphaël Guerreiro. The goal came after Serge Gnabry went down following an enterprising run on the left, but while everyone looked to the referee, the Portuguese midfielder took advantage of the loose ball by firing an unstoppable drive in off the underside of the bar.
Gnabry then had the chance to double the lead just a few minutes later, when Jakov Medić barged Leroy Sané over in the box, but he smacked the base of the post with the resultant spot kick.
Regardless, Bayern did double the lead just before the half hour mark, when Guerreiro nabbed his second of the day, heading home from close range after intelligent play from Thomas Müller.
Two-nil down and without an away goal against Bayern since 2010, things looked bleak for Bochum at this point – but they fired back immediately, with Medić firing a loose ball high into the net following a corner.
The complexion of the entire contest changed from that moment, and Bayern’s fears of a comeback were increased just before half time, when João Palhinha was shown a straight red card for catching Georgios Masouras with his studs.
The visitors duly came out all guns blazing after half time, and quickly found a leveller with Ibrahima Sissoko the man restoring parity, planting a perfect header into the far corner from Felix Passlack’s cross.
The visitors curbed their attacking instincts after the equaliser though, and were almost punished when Guerreiro poked wide after running through on goal.
That said, Bayern struggled to create anything else and responded with a quadruple change on the hour mark.
Initially it looked like the change worked as the hosts re-established their dominance, but they were caught with a suckerpunch with twenty minutes to go when Matúš Bero broke through the middle before a calm finish completed the comeback.
A huge three points elevates Bochum out of the bottom-two to occupy the relegation playoff spot, while Bayern remain eight points clear at the top after Bayer Leverkusen’s defeat to Werder Bremen.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ibrahima Sissoko (VfL Bochum)