Takeaways as Bayern Munich complete league double over Borussia Dortmund
Key Bayern Munich players
Bayern had a few standout performers in this performance that earned recognition. Both are from the defensive side of the ball. The first player is Alphonso Davies. It seems these days that Davies is always putting in a man-of-the-match performance, and this match was no different.
At one instance, while defending, Phonzie showed his trademark approach. Dortmund striker was running in on goal. Davies raced back and got in front of the player to deny him a shooting chance. Such types of crunch interventions help Die Roten to collect clean sheets. This wasn’t the only instance of his dominance. Several times the left-back made key tackles or used his pace and technical skills to beat defenders. It was a joy to watch the teenager play effortlessly. Davies continued the upward trajectory as he locked down the left flank.
The second player of note is Joshua Kimmich. As stated above, the midfielder scored what would become the winning goal, but his overall contribution was much greater. His presence helped steady the ship in the first half when Dortmund were controlling possession. In the second half, as Bayern were increasing their pressure, Kimmich was at the heart of the flow, spreading passes around all over the field.
Having a partner, like Leon Goretzka, was incredibly beneficial for Kimmich. Goretzka acted as an enforcer, allowing Kimmich to use his complete passing range to full effect. It should also be noted the effort that Kimmich puts out on the pitch. Much like Bayern legend Bastien Schweinsteiger, Kimmich wears his heart on his sleeve, giving his blood and sweat on the pitch. He will eventually make a wonderful Bayern Munich captain in the future.
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Lastly, Jerome Boateng played one of the best matches of the season. Once a liability on the Bayern team-sheet, the German defender has completely flipped his reputation among fans and media, becoming a consistent, reliable defender. He was able to completely stifle Dortmund’s strikers and showed composure on the ball when pressured.
Boateng also showed off his extreme passing range, launching balls downfield to attackers to run at the defense. If it wasn’t for Boateng, who also made a goal-line clearance in the first minute, Bayern would have conceded at least a goal in this match. It was an elite performance against a team that boasts a lot of attackers.