Attention!

Bayern Munich won 3-1 in the away match against Augsburg held on the 5th (Korean time) at WWK Arena in Augsburg, Germany, during the 2024-2025 season Bundesliga round 28, further solidifying their position at the top.

With this victory, Bayern Munich recorded 68 points (21 wins, 5 draws, 2 losses), extending their lead to 9 points over second-place Bayer Leverkusen (59 points), who have yet to play. This puts them in a favorable position in the Bundesliga championship race.

Bayern Munich deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation. Harry Kane played at the front, with Leroy Sane, Jamal Musiala, and Michael Olise positioned in the attacking midfield. Joao Palhinha and Joshua Kimmich protected the back four, while Josip Stanisic, Kim Min-jae, Eric Dier, and Konrad Laimer formed the defensive line. Jonas Urbig guarded the goal.

Kim Min-jae, a key defender for Bayern Munich, played the full match and solidified the team’s defense. Despite ongoing pain from Achilles tendonitis, he had consistently featured, and it was difficult for him to fully recover even during the A-match break.

From the early stages, Bayern Munich took control of the game based on possession, but Augsburg created the first score with a sharp strike. In the 30th minute of the first half, the defense was unable to properly respond to a quick pass aimed at the back space during a set piece situation, allowing Dimitrios Yanelis to evade a defender and shake the net with a right-footed shot.

Bayern Munich immediately countered, and in the 42nd minute, after Sane's breakthrough, Jamal Musiala created an equalizer with a right-footed shot through the defense. This goal was a crucial score that concluded the first half at 1-1.

In the early part of the second half, Bayern Munich created several good opportunities, but their finishing was disappointing. Olise's left-footed shot hit the crossbar, and to make matters worse, Musiala had to be substituted due to injury.

The scene that changed the flow of the game came in the 14th minute of the second half. Harry Kane, during a counterattack, drew a foul from opposing defender Cedric Ceballos, who was already on a yellow card and was sent off with a second yellow.

With the numerical advantage, Bayern Munich seized the opportunity. In the 15th minute of the second half, from a free-kick, Kimmich made an accurate directional consolidation to Olise, and Kane completed the turnaround goal with a diving header on the ensuing cross.

At the end of the match, Augsburg gathered their last strength to seek an equalizer, and a scoring threat arose in the 45th minute of the second half. Dier made a mistake in defense, allowing the opponent a chance in front of the goal, but Kim Min-jae quickly approached and disrupted the shot with a decisive defensive play. Shortly after this scene, Kim Min-jae gestured to his fellow defenders to focus, displaying leadership.

Just before the end of the match, Sane disrupted the opponent's Chin Young and attempted a pass, which deflected off a defender and went straight into the goal, sealing the deal for Bayern. Ultimately, the match ended 3-1.

Kim Min-jae, who started again due to injuries to Dayo Upamecano and Alphonso Davies, played a pivotal role in the team's buildup from the early stages. When he stayed back, the attack stalled, but when he stepped up like a defensive midfielder to participate in the consolidation, the game began to open up.

At the end of the match, during a 2-1 lead, the moment he made up for Dier's mistake was the best demonstration of Kim Min-jae's presence that day. As the opposing striker Berisha faced a crucial scoring chance, Kim Min-jae sharply intercepted and prevented the goal. This moment became a turning point, shifting the game's atmosphere completely in Bayern Munich's favor.

Kim Min-jae recorded a pass success rate of 94% (77 attempts) in the match, marking the highest in the team, and won 3 out of 5 aerial duels. He also posted impressive defensive stats with 1 interception, 4 clearances, and 1 successful ball recovery.

Kim Min-jae displayed tenacious and stable defense. With his quick cover and bold advance defense, he consistently gained the upper hand in duels against opposing strikers.

According to the football statistics outlet Footmob, Kim Min-jae recorded 4 clearances, 2 headed clearances, 1 interception, 9 recoveries, 1 successful ground duel, and 5 successful aerial duels.

Footmob awarded Kim Min-jae a score of 7.7, the second-highest among all defenders, just behind Stanisic (8.1).

In particular, Kim Min-jae saved the team just before the end of the match.

In the 45th minute of the second half, Berisha, who penetrated the back space, shot in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper, but Kim Min-jae quickly closed in to cut the shot. This was a mistake from Dier, who failed to keep track of Berisha's penetration. Kim Min-jae shouted loudly with intense gestures at his distracted teammates.

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