Strong return to starting XI from Aleksandar Pavlović
Kompany was able to select his first-choice midfield pairing against Heidenheim as Aleksandar Pavlović recovered from a shoulder injury. He came off the bench against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday. Since he is fit enough to challenge for duels, Kompany handed him a start against Heidenheim.
Despite being out for several weeks, the young German midfielder showed no signs of rustiness. He didn’t create chances in the game but helped Bayern to keep things ticking in the center of the park. Since Pavlović was efficient with the ball, Die Roten could control the game and pin Heidenheim in their half.
The 20-year-old midfielder completed 115 passes against Heidenheim with a staggering accuracy of 96%. He was also solid defensively, winning the majority of the duels he contested to stop Heidenheim from breaking into counterattacks. A tidy performance on his return to the team bodes well for the rest of the season. Pavlović will play a crucial role for Bayern in the remaining two competitions.