Despite not being in peak condition, Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich) played the full 90 minutes and garnered positive reactions from German media.

Bayern Munich defeated Augsburg 3-1 in the 28th round of the 2024-2025 Bundesliga held at Augsburg's WWK Arena on Nov. 5 at 3:30 a.m. (Korea time).

With this victory, Bayern recorded 21 wins, 5 draws, and 2 losses (68 points) for the season, leaving second-place Bayer Leverkusen (59 points) nine points behind. They have secured a favorable position in the title race.

On this day, Bayern utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation. Harry Kane played as the forward, while Leroy Sane, Jamal Musiala, and Michael Olise were positioned in the second line. In midfield were Joao Palhinha and Joshua Kimmich, while the defense consisted of Josip Stanisic, Kim Min-jae, Eric Dier, and Konrad Laimer. The goalkeeper was Jonas Urbig.

Kim Min-jae held his ground as the center of defense and performed excellently throughout the match. Despite dealing with Achilles pain, he has consistently been a starter recently, stepping onto the field without fully recovering during the international match break.

From the first half, Bayern took charge of the game with ball possession, but Augsburg made the most of their opportunities. In the 30th minute, during a set-piece situation, a quick through pass exposed a gap in the defense, and Dimitrios Yanoulis scored the opening goal with a right-footed shot.

Immediately after conceding, Bayern launched a counterattack. In the 42nd minute, Sane broke down the left flank and delivered a cross, which Musiala managed to squeeze through the defense with a right-footed turning shot to equalize the match at 1-1.

In the second half, Bayern had several attacking chances, but the finishing was disappointing. There was a frustrating moment when Olise's left-footed shot hit the crossbar. It was compounded by an injury to Musiala, continuing the team's unfortunate run.

The decisive moment that shifted the momentum of the match came in the 14th minute of the second half. Kane drew a foul from opposing defender Cedric Cecher during a counterattack, and Cecher, who had already received a warning, was sent off with a second caution.

Taking advantage of their numerical superiority, Bayern capitalized on the opportunity to turn the game around. In the 15th minute of the second half, during a free-kick situation, Kimmich redirected the ball to Olise, whose accurate cross was converted into a goal by Kane with a diving header, completing the consolidation.

In the final moments, Augsburg launched an all-out attack to equalize, creating a scoring threat in the 45th minute. Due to a defensive mistake by Dier, the opponents penetrated near the goal, but Kim Min-jae quickly intervened to block the shot and avert the crisis. Afterwards, Kim Min-jae gestured to his defense, conveying a message to maintain focus.

Just before the match ended, Sane broke through the opponent's territory to attempt a pass, but the ball deflected off an opposing defender and entered the net, allowing Bayern to add another goal. The final result was a 3-1 victory for Bayern.

With the absence of Upamecano and Davies due to injuries, Kim Min-jae regained his starting position and played a vital role in the buildup from the beginning of the match. When he stayed back on defense, the attack stalled, but as he advanced and engaged in pass connections, the flow of the attack revived.

Especially in the late second half during a 2-1 situation, his actions in preventing a crisis due to Dier's mistake highlighted Kim Min-jae's value on the pitch. Even though Berisha had a decisive opportunity, Kim Min-jae calmly responded and prevented a goal. This action marked a moment where Bayern completely regained their rhythm.

In the match, Kim Min-jae attempted 77 passes with a success rate of 94%, showcasing the most reliable passing on the team, and he won 3 out of 5 aerial duels. Additionally, he had 1 interception, 4 clearances, and 1 successful tackle, demonstrating excellent defensive metrics.

After the match, German media outlet 'TZ' released player ratings, giving Kim Min-jae a score of 3. The German scoring system uses a scale of 1 to 6, where 1 is the highest rating and 3 is considered a solid performance above average.

'In a situation where the defense was lacking, Kim Min-jae had to play again despite suffering from an Achilles injury and symptoms of a cold. Though he showed some shakiness in early passes, overall he demonstrated his stability as a 'defensive monster' once again,' the media noted.

Another German outlet, 'AZ,' also rated him with 3 points. The media commented, 'Just 3 minutes into the match, he made a passing error, marking an unfortunate start in his 50th Bundesliga appearance. However, he then displayed solid and trustworthy performance.'

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