FC Bayern kicked off the new Bundesliga season with a resounding statement. On Friday evening, the Munich team defeated VfB Stuttgart 5-1, celebrating a successful start to the season. Despite the lopsided score, however, Joshua Kimmich did not see his team put on a dominant performance throughout the entire match.
Bayern struggled against Stuttgart, particularly in the early going. VfB put up a fight and posed several challenges for the record champions with their intense style of play. It wasn’t until later in the match that the Munich team found their rhythm.
In an interview with SAT.1 after the final whistle, Kimmich offered a nuanced assessment of the performance.
“It was a typical game against VfB; it was evenly matched until the last half-hour. Both teams play man-to-man, which is difficult and very intense,” explained the Bayern captain.
Kimmich Shows Self-Criticism Despite Clear Victory
From Kimmich’s perspective, the fact that the scoreboard read 5–1 at the end doesn’t necessarily reflect the entire course of the game. The midfielder wasn’t entirely satisfied with his team’s start, in particular.
“I thought the first 25 minutes weren’t that good, but then we found our rhythm and deserved to win the game,” emphasized the 31-year-old.
It was precisely this response that coach Vincent Kompany likely appreciated. Bayern didn’t let the difficult opening phase throw them off their game; they improved as the match went on and gradually took control.
The fact that VfB was able to hold its own for so long didn’t surprise Kimmich. Recent matches between the two teams have regularly been marked by high intensity. Added to that is the offensive approach of both teams, which, with their man-to-man defense, repeatedly provoke direct one-on-one duels.
Bayern Makes a Strong Statement
For Munich, however, the decisive victory is a perfect start. After winning the Super Cup against Borussia Dortmund, Kompany’s team also successfully navigated its first Bundesliga challenge.
The 5-1 victory also sends an initial message to the competition. The record champions had already made it clear before the season began that they wanted to build on their strong performance last season and once again compete for every title.
Kimmich’s analysis, however, also shows that the team still sees room for improvement despite the lopsided result. The first 25 minutes, in particular, are likely to be a topic of discussion during the post-match review.
In the end, though, what matters most to the Bayern captain is the result. After some initial difficulties, the Munich team found their rhythm and turned a long, evenly matched game into a decisive 5-1 victory.