FC Bayern kicked off the new Bundesliga season with a convincing 5-1 victory over VfB Stuttgart. FCBinside offers three takeaways from the match.
Munich celebrated a decisive home victory over Stuttgartin their Bundesliga opener, building on their successful Super Cup win against Borussia Dortmund. The game yielded the following insights:
1. Kim is shaking up the pecking order
Just a few weeks ago, Minjae Kim was considered a potential transfer target for FC Bayern. After the first matchday of the Bundesliga, however, the question is whether the South Korean might even be a serious contender for the starting lineup.
Vincent Kompany’s decision to start Kim against Stuttgart was noteworthy in itself. Jonathan Tah was fit and had started in the Super Cup just a week earlier. Nevertheless, Kompany opted for Kim alongside Dayot Upamecano in the Bundesliga opener. Of course, load management also played a role. But the fact that the Bayern coach rotated out a regular center back at such an early stage shows just how much he now trusts Kim.
The 29-year-old repaid that trust. Kim defended attentively, intercepted several balls, and was uncompromising in one-on-one duels. In doing so, he confirmed the strong impressions he made during preseason.
Kompany had already made it clear during the Asian tour that he doesn’t necessarily see the supposedly clear pecking order with Upamecano and Tah ahead of Kim. “Don’t make everything sound so absolute,” the Belgian explained at the time. Kim is currently letting his actions on the field speak for his coach.
It’s still too early to deny Tah or Upamecano their starting spots. But the hierarchy in Bayern’s central defense no longer seems as clear-cut as it was last season. Kim has long since become more than just the number three.
2. Davies is back on the attack
A lot has happened for Alphonso Davies over the past year and a half: serious injuries, a string of setbacks, and finally the loss of his starting spot. This summer, FC Bayern also signed a new competitor, Nathaniel Brown, for a hefty sum.
Against Stuttgart, Davies reminded everyone for the first time in a long while of the player who had held the left side of Bayern’s defense virtually unchallenged for years. The Canadian was incredibly active, repeatedly joining the attack with pace and creating danger. He also played a decisive role in setting up the 3-1 goal: After his cross, Josha Vagnoman bizarrely deflected the ball into his own net.
Above all, however, Davies seemed less inhibited again. After his numerous injuries, he had admitted that he had held back at times out of fear of another setback. Against Stuttgart, he once again deployed his greatest strengths: dynamism, speed, and his tremendous drive forward.
The situation with Brown is also interesting. The new signing was actually brought in as a competitor for Davies, but Kompany currently needs him in the number 10 role. This reopens the door for Davies in his natural position—and against Stuttgart, he took advantage of it.
One strong game doesn’t signal a definitive turnaround. But Davies has shown that if he stays fit and regains that carefree confidence on a consistent basis, he can continue to play an important role at FC Bayern.
3. Saibari Stakes His Claim at the Number 10 Position
Nathaniel Brown’s new role as the number 10 is currently helping Davies. But after the Stuttgart game, it’s at least questionable how long Brown will actually remain the first choice in the attacking midfield.
That’s because Ismael Saibari impressively demonstrated in his Bundesliga debut why his preferred position is in the center. The new signing came on for Brown in the 61st minute and immediately brought significantly more momentum to Munich’s offensive play.
Before the 4-1 goal, Saibari won the ball with strong physical play and, showing great vision, set up Aleksandar Pavlovic. Shortly afterward came his next standout moment: with a dream pass, he set up Luis Diaz for the 5-1 goal.
The 25-year-old thus recorded two assists on his Bundesliga debut. Since records began in 2004–05, Saibari is only the sixth player to achieve this feat. Before him, Luis Diaz, Robbie Kruse, Shinji Ono, Toni Kroos, and Diego had done so.
The direct comparison with Brown was clear-cut that evening. While the natural left back remained inconspicuous in the number 10 role for long stretches, Saibari immediately injected new energy into Bayern’s play in that position.
Especially since it’s unclear when Jamal Musiala will be available on a long-term basis again. As long as the national team player is out, Saibari should have a good chance of securing the number 10 position after this performance. However, given his injury and lack of training, it remains to be seen when he’ll be able to sustain this level of intensity for a full 90 minutes.
In any case, his Bundesliga debut was a real statement of intent.