"I am greedy for trophies."

Bayern Munich defeated Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2-0 in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) Round of 16 held at BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, at 5 a.m. (Korean time) on Dec. 12. After winning the first leg 3-0, Bayern advanced to the next round with a total score of 5-0.

That day, Bayern operated at their best. Following their 3-0 victory in the first leg, they utilized a rotation against VfL Bochum in the weekend league match, but suffered a 2-3 comeback loss. However, thanks to the rest given to key players, all main players were able to participate in the match that day.

Bayern positioned Harry Kane at the front, with Kingsley Coman, Michael Olise, and Jamal Musiala in the second line. The midfield was covered by Konrad Laimer and Leon Goretzka, while the defense consisted of Alphonso Davies, Kim Min-jae, Dayot Upamecano, and Joshua Kimmich. Jonas Urbig defended the goal.

Excluding Manuel Neuer, who was injured while celebrating the team's goal in the first leg, Bayern essentially operated at their best lineup. In contrast, Leverkusen felt the significant absence of star Florian Wirtz due to injury.

With Bayern already leading 3-0, they displayed stable game management. Meanwhile, Leverkusen attempted attacks utilizing long balls and crosses centered around forward Patrik Schick, but Kim Min-jae made several crucial defensive plays, blocking the opponents' flow.

Leverkusen faced setbacks when Mario Hermoso had to be substituted due to injury in the 38th minute of the first half. In the 44th minute, Schick's header struck the crossbar during a corner kick situation but did not connect for a goal. Then, in the 45th minute, Leverkusen had a counterattack opportunity, but Kim Min-jae astonishingly followed up with unbelievable speed, blocking the opponent's attack. Ultimately, the first half ended with a score of 0-0.

As the second half began, Bayern struck the opening goal. In the 53rd minute, they earned a free kick in the opponent's half, and Kimmich, taking the kick, delivered an accurate cross. In this process, Kim Min-jae attracted the opponent's defense to create space, which Kane capitalized on, finishing smoothly to take the lead.

In the 71st minute, Alphonso Davies scored an additional goal, confirming Bayern's victory. Throughout the match, Kim Min-jae maintained solid defense, thoroughly blocking Leverkusen's key forward Jeremy Frimpong. As a result, the match ended in a 2-0 victory for Bayern.

In this match, Kim Min-jae delivered an outstanding performance. Notably, he dominated Frimpong with his quick feet and strong physique.

In the 44th minute, Kim Min-jae approached Frimpong with incredible speed as he received the ball in the defensive half, successfully blocking the opponent's advance. Then, in the 82nd minute, as Frimpong attempted to burst through, Kim Min-jae again showcased higher speed and strong physique, preventing the opponent from properly controlling the ball.

The most dominant moment came in the 87th minute. Frimpong faced a one-on-one chance in front of the penalty box, but Kim Min-jae approached explosively from behind, blocking the ball and completely neutralizing the opponent. Following this moment, Frimpong hung his head, unable to hide his disappointment.

Kim Min-jae's match statistics were nearly perfect. He recorded one successful tackle, two blocks, and ten clearances. Notably, he had seven header clearances, demonstrating dominance in aerial duels. He also recorded two interceptions and two recoveries, playing a crucial role in defense overall. Furthermore, he attempted 38 passes, successfully completing 32, showing stability in buildup play.

The football statistics company 'Footmob' awarded Kim Min-jae a rating of 7.6, recognizing his performance.

The German media 'TZ' also praised Kim Min-jae. The media typically rates players on a scale from 1 to 6, with a score closer to 1 being higher. Kim Min-jae received a near-perfect score of 2. They commented, "He aggressively moved up at the optimal timing or provided backup, perfectly neutralizing counterattacks from the opponents."

'Bild' in Germany also awarded Kim Min-jae a score of 2. His performance was impressive enough for German media, previously known for their biases against him, to recognize it. Attention is on whether Kim Min-jae, who has been acknowledged by various media, can bring the team to the European stage.

/mcadoo@soen.co.kr

[OSEN]