They have surpassed the unfair criticism with their skills. The presence of Kim Min-jae (28, Bayern Munich) is a hot topic.
Bayern Munich won 3-1 against Stuttgart in the away match of the 24th round of the 2024-2025 Bundesliga season held at MHP Arena in Stuttgart, Germany, on the morning of Nov. 1 (Korea time). With this win, Bayern continued their upward trend with an unbeaten streak of nine matches.
They are one step closer to the Bundesliga title after two years. Now, first-place Bayern has recorded 61 points (19 wins, 4 draws, 1 loss), widening the gap to 11 points over second-place Bayer Leverkusen (50 points) who have played one game less. Kim Min-jae's presence was particularly noticeable during this virtually decisive match for the championship.
Stuttgart attacked aggressively in the early stages. In the 6th minute of the first half, Faghno made a good opportunity but failed to finish. Kim Min-jae also showcased his presence from the back by intercepting the opponent’s passes well.
Bayern missed a crucial chance. In the 22nd minute of the first half, Stuttgart made a mistake during a buildup at the back, and Sane intercepted it and passed. Musiala, who received the ball, faced the goalkeeper one-on-one, but his shot went wide of the post. Stuttgart hit the woodwork in the 31st minute of the first half when Undav's shot rattled the goalpost.
Stuttgart took the lead first. In the 34th minute of the first half, Sane slipped and lost the ball, and Faghno passed it from the right. Stiller, who received the ball around the arc, blasted a left-footed shot into the net, scoring the opening goal.
Bayern equalized before the end of the first half. In the 45th minute, Kim Min-jae headed the long clearance over Stuttgart's defense to Chonbang in front. Chonbang quickly threaded a through pass into the space behind, and Olysee finished off with a precise left-footed shot to score the equalizer. The first half ended 1-1.
Bayern turned the game around. In the 64th minute, Stuttgart made another fatal mistake during a buildup in the box. Goretzka quickly rushed in and intercepted the ball just as the goalkeeper was releasing his pass, then scored to complete the comeback.
Stuttgart launched an offensive to equalize. However, they were unable to break through Bayern's stable defense, centered around Kim Min-jae and Eric Dier. Stuttgart struggled to find shooting opportunities in the box. Bayern closed out the match by adding a late goal to defeat Stuttgart.
The hero of the victory was Kim Min-jae, who played full time for 90 minutes and also played a pivotal role in the equalizer. He recorded three successful long passes (3/4), one tackle, 11 clearances, five recoveries, and won 100% of aerial battles (4/4). Football statistics outlet 'Footmob' rated him 7.7.
Despite Kim Min-jae’s impressive performance, there are still concerns. Due to the injury of Upamecano, he has to be consistently called up to start even though he requested a break. His partner Eric Dier is relatively slower, which means he still has to push himself to sprint.
Kim Min-jae showed a solid performance despite not being at 100% condition. He has been experiencing pain in his left Achilles tendon since last fall, which has also affected his right knee. Recently, he requested some time off. However, due to Upamecano's injury, he is forced to start.
Moreover, he cannot have just one game against Stuttgart and rest. There are more important matches ahead. In particular, on the 5th, there will be a crucial match against Bayer Leverkusen for the Bundesliga title and the UEFA Champions League.
Bayern has to risk everything in the Round of 16 against Leverkusen. Therefore, Kim Min-jae's utilization in this match is almost certain. Even with his request for a break, he will have to play full time in three matches in just 10 days.
Cheers erupted even in Germany. Most recognized his performance by giving him the highest rating of 2 on the team. SpoX praised, "He was Bayern’s best defender. Kim Min-jae recorded several outstanding defensive plays. He created Olysee’s equalizer by winning an aerial ball."
'TZ' also noted, "Since October, Kim Min-jae has been suffering from Achilles tendonitis and had to grit his teeth again. He performed stably without mistakes and sent many passes forward. This is the performance that coach Kompany expects from him," giving him a rating of 2. 'Avent Zeitung' remarked, "He defended alongside Dier against massive ball threats. He was very confident," awarding him a rating of 2.
Particularly noteworthy is that Kicker, which had previously given him evaluations close to disparagement, also praised him. Kicker awarded Kim Min-jae the highest score of 2, stating, "He showed strength and a clear presence in the box. He delivered an overwhelming performance throughout the 90 minutes."
Kicker remarked, "Kim Min-jae showed a strong presence throughout the game in both ground and aerial duels. His success rate in contests was about 90%. He truly demonstrated that he is the core of Bayern's defense," recognizing his performance cleanly.
Reluctantly showering praise, Kicker recognized Kim Min-jae once again. This outlet included his name among the central defenders in the Bundesliga's 24th round Best XI. They chose Kim Min-jae to anchor a defensive lineup configured in a 3-2-4-1 formation. In essence, they acknowledged him instead of dismissing him.
[Photo] Bayern Munich social media.
[OSEN = Lee In-hwan, reporter]