Even though he was not on the scoresheet or played the deciding pass for any goal, Tom Bischof did all the beautiful things for Bayern Munich before the balls hit the back of the net.
Sofascore gave him just a 6.9 rating, which we think was not justified, considering his stellar display on the eye test. He is the most underappreciated and underrated player in the Allianz Arena's thrashing of Wolfsburg.
The 20-year-old owned the midfield. He completed a whopping 89 out of 92 passes, a near-perfect game in terms of passing. The 89 passes include eight accurate long balls and nine progressive passes.
Bischof excelled defensively against Wolfsburg
Not only excelling as a deep-lying playmaker, but Bischof also took up a heavier defensive duty among the two pivots and did the task masterfully. His mobility and work rate made life much easier for the backline, who faced virtually no trouble all game.
Bischof was flying in the middle of the pitch to every hot zone, fighting every duel. His team-high eight recoveries were crucial for Bayern to retain possession and dictate the tempo of the game.
Surprisingly, his game against Wolfsburg was only Bischof's second full 90 minutes as a centre midfielder since the 4-0 victory against Werder Bremen in September. The last time he did this, he also clocked in a solid shift and grabbed himself an assist.
Other than that rare occasion, Vincent Kompany has mostly utilised the 20-year-old as a left-back during Bayern's injury crisis, which can be called a personnel mistake. Tom Bischof's motor and passing ability make him an ideal option in the midfield, whereas he would struggle defensively playing down the flank.
The injury to Joshua Kimmich has been a blessing in disguise for Bayern. The young German has probably earned his boss's favour for a third midfield slot over veteran Leon Goretzka with that performance. Vincent Kompany has found someone he can trust alongside either the typical duo of Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic.
Last year in Hoffenheim's colours, he emerged to become one of the best up-and-coming midfield talents in the Bundesliga. Now, just a bit more game time to hone his skills and add some confidence and experience, and Bischof is surely ready for that next big jump as a go-to star and a national team mainstay.
Bayern fans are looking forward to more of the same from number 20 in the next few fixtures.
Stats courtesy- Sofascore