Bayern Munich: Top performers against Wolfsburg
By Isaac Rivers
On Matchday two of the new Bundesliga season, reigning champions Bayern Munich hosted a young and rejuvenated Wolfsburg at Allianz Arena. Bayern, coming off of last week’s 6-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, delivered yet another solid performance. Though Wolfsburg mounted a credible challenge, it was not enough to stop the home side. Here are Bayern’s top three players in their 2-0 win against Wolfsburg.
Benjamin Pavard
Two games, two terrific performances from Benjamin Pavard. Throughout Bayern’s backline, no other defender has been so on-point with everything he does on the pitch, offensively and defensively. Not only did he help his team to get a clean sheet against Wolfsburg, but his passing and forward play also provided him thrust in the final third.
Throughout the entirety of the game, his overlapping runs with Thomas Muller allowed him to deliver a couple of inch-perfect crosses. With his exquisite forward play and defensive lockdown, Benjamin Pavard seems to be the key to Bayern’s defensive success this season.
Joshua Kimmich
After two games in Nagelsmann’s new 4-4-2 formation, Joshua Kimmich’s midfield game has flourished. His partnership with Marcel Sabitzer has allowed him to drift further up the field than we’ve really ever seen. What makes this even more impressive is that no matter where he is, Kimmich manages to still make himself as the first line of defense against the opposition.
In this game, Kimmich’s defensive presence was very evident because most of Wolfsburg’s attacking play was stopped by the defensive midfielder. To cap off his class performance, Kimmich provided a lovely assist for Muller, which ultimately could have found the back of the net by itself. On the field, consistency is key, and no player is more consistent than Joshua Kimmich.
Jamal Musiala
If the opening two games of the season have told us anything, it’s that Jamal Musiala is going to be making this list more than not this season. Musiala picked up exactly where he left off last week and was able to grab a stunning solo goal. After receiving the ball from Muller a good 20-yards out, Musiala spun and dribbled past two Wolfsburg defenders before firing the ball into the back of the net.
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Even though Musiala was the youngest player on the field, he has been playing with such class and experience these last two games from his dribbling, to the goal scoring, to his vision in playing the ball forward. It is quite evident that we are on the brink of his breakout season. A guaranteed Man of the Match performance for Jamal Musiala.
Winning their opening two games of a season for the first time in four seasons, Bayern are off to a great start. Their next Bundesliga game is away at VfL Bochum on Aug. 21.