Takeaways as Bayern Munich claim victory against Bayer Leverkusen

Bayern Munich’s midfield continues to impress

Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka again got the nod for the starting lineup and proved once again that they are an elite pairing. The duo were some of the best performers on the pitch. Corentin Tolisso’s injury came at the wrong time because with Kimmich, Goretzka, and Thiago, Bayern has three of the best midfielders in the world for only two positions.

Before the coronavirus break, Kimmich and Thiago were establishing themselves as one of the most formidable duos in the world. And after the break, and Thiago’s injury, Goretzka has stepped in, and the performances haven’t dropped. One could even say that Goretzka has outperformed Thiago.

Goretzka was the standout player in this match, though, getting an assist and a goal. It was his pass that played through Coman to start the scoring for Die Roten. And then, his goal was a left-footed effort from the edge of the box, going across the goalkeeper into the far side netting.

The German international is the link from midfield to the attack, and this is shown with his box score numbers. One could make the argument that his presence on the pitch gives Bayern a greater edge than Thiago’s. With all of Thiago’s tricks and incredible technique and passing ability, Goretzka offers brute strength and goal-scoring potential.

The unsung hero and constant in this midfield is Kimmich. With Muller taking the responsibilities of the attacking midfielder, Kimmich thrives in the center of the park. Kimmich is tireless, and even when another midfielder comes on the pitch, he isn’t the one to come off. He is hardly rested for a game, and yet his performances don’t falter. Although he doesn’t get on the score sheet very often, he always influences the game, and that is exactly what happened against Leverkusen. And luckily for Bayern, he looks to only be getting better and better.