Bayern Munich: Top performers on matchday 20 of the Bundesliga
By Isaac Rivers
On Matchday 20 of the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich hosted VfL Bochum. The last time these two sides faced off against each other, Die Roten cruised to an easy victory with a fashionable 7-0 win over Bochum.
Bayern hosted Bochum on the back of their first league win of 2023 which came against Wolfsburg last week. Even though Bochum was coming into this game with some momentum on their side, they were no match for league leaders. Here are Bayern’s top performers on matchday 20 of the Bundesliga.
Thomas Muller
In a lackluster first half, Thomas Muller was the shining star for Bayern. Even though he was taken off at halfway mark, Muller still managed to create the highlight of the game. After receiving the ball at about midfield, Muller was one-on-one with the Bochum goalie as he charged down the field. With his first shot deflected, his second effort found the back of the net from a good 25 yards out.
On top of scoring Bayern’s opening goal, Muller was also the first person to every loose ball, and his constant pressure on defense drove Bochum to make one too many mistakes. It seems as though Muller is finally starting to find his good form in 2023.
Dayot Upamecano
With Bayern finally recording their first clean sheet in five matches, the defensive unit was led by the excellent performance from Dayot Upamecano. A stonewall performance from the French defender was probably the main contributor to Bayern’s clean sheet.
The game against Bochum had some of the most accurate tackles Upamecano has had all season so far. Bochum faced a human wall in the form of Upamecano on Saturday. Overall, a class performance from the French defender that led to a well-deserved result.
Serge Gnabry
Serge Gnabry seemed to play every single role in this game versus Bochum. From finding his way up front to playing along the right sideline, to even playing in the wing-back role, Gnabry was everywhere– and still managed to do exactly what Bayern needed him to do.
Gnabry was able to create chance after chance in the final third, whether it be the dangerous pass or the deadly shot. In the 34th minute, Gnabry had a tremendous shot saved. To cap off his class performance, Gnabry drew a penalty and scored from the spot to seal the three points for Die Roten. A performance that was worthy of Man of the Match.
Next. Will there be a new captain next season?. dark
Want your voice heard? Join the Bayern Strikes team!
Honorable Mention: Kingsley Coman
Since coming on in the 60th minute, Kingsley Coman made a great impact on the pitch. It only took Coman four minutes to score a great goal, sending the ball right between the legs of the Bochum keeper. Many will wonder why he didn’t get the start today, but regardless, he proved exactly why he needs to be on the pitch.
Bayern Munich will look to continue this steady run of form in their next game in order to get a strong start in the Champions League Round of 16. Bayern will travel to Paris on Tuesday to face Paris Saint-Germain.