There is no question that Joshua Kimmich, Bayern Munich, has developed into one of the premier central midfielders in the world. However, following an injury to Benjamin Pavard, Kimmich returned to a position where he broke through for years – and dominated: right back.
To say that the results were less than amazing would make the 25-year-old do a great service. Kimmich was nothing short of exceptional.
FC Barcelona had absolutely no answer for Kimmich during the day and resulted in various forms of attack and battery to try to carry a man with moonlight on what is now his second-best position.
Think about it.
Kimmich had the two-thirds responsibility to eliminate the brutal Barca attack led by players such as Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Arturo Vidal, and Frenkie De Jong, while also attacking from the flank. And Kimmich not only performed admirably in his throwback to right-back, he performed.
With a goal and an assist, Kimmich was an absolute force offensive. After his help on the second goal of Thomas Müller extended Bayern Munich’s lead to 4-1, Kimmich was just moving his time until he went for an own goal.
After 63 minutes, Kimmich Alphonso Davies came close to leveling the score with a dangerous shot from the center of the area that went just over the bar. for the first goal of Bayern Munich second half and a dominant 5-1 lead.
Brilliant from start to finish.
Alphonso Davies ➡️ Joshua Kimmich and Bayern Munich restored their lead of three goals. pic.twitter.com/T73VUxWiD4
– Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) August 14, 2020
This play was so good, our very own Tom Adams gave it his own post:
Any hope that Barcelona had clapped its way back into the game was quickly and effectively ended by Kimmich’s time trial in the box.
It wasn’t just Kimmich’s offensive ability that made him so valuable during the day. Kimmich was the top defender of Bayern Munich in the match. While Davies, David Alaba and Jerome Boateng all occasionally wrestled with consistency during the game, Kimmich was a rock for the entire game.
Kimmich’s return to right back might just be a short comeo, but it should make Hansi Flick feel good that if Pavard were to go down again, the best right back in the world is only a whistle and point away.
