Joshua Kimmich kicked off the new Bundesliga season with a strong performance. In FC Bayern’s decisive 5-1 victory over VfB Stuttgart, the midfielder set up two goals directly and played a key role in another. However, one statistic even surprised him after the final whistle.
This was the first time in three years that Kimmich had recorded two assists in a single Bundesliga match. When the 31-year-old was asked about it after the game on Sat.1, he apparently could hardly believe it himself.
“That’s outrageous—I really need to get my act together,” Kimmich joked about his personal slump.
Yet the Bayern star had impressively demonstrated against Stuttgart that he remains one of the most important playmakers in Munich’s game. Kimmich had already showcased his skills on set pieces when the team took the lead.
Kimmich set up two goals
In the 21st minute, Kimmich delivered a precise corner kick to the near post. Dayot Upamecano got a head to it and headed home the 1-0 lead. After Stuttgart temporarily equalized through Josha Vagnoman, the midfielder was once again in the right place at the right time.
Kimmich won the ball and then set up Michael Olise with a precise pass. The Frenchman capitalized on the opportunity and put the record champions back on the winning track in the 55th minute.
Kimmich was also involved in Bayern’s next goal. His pass to Alphonso Davies sparked the attack, which culminated in Vagnoman deflecting a cross into his own net.
Kimmich’s other statistics also demonstrate that he had an outstanding game. He covered 12.2 kilometers, the greatest distance of any Bayern player. He also completed 56 passes to his teammates and won six of his eight tackles.
Despite the 5-1 win, Kimmich still sees room for improvement
However, Kimmich refused to be blinded by the lopsided final score. The Bayern star was not entirely satisfied with the early stages of the match in particular.
“Especially in the first 25 minutes, VfB was a bit more present and had the upper hand,” he explained after the game. Immediately after the final whistle, Kimmich had emphasized that the match had started out evenly matched before Bayern found their rhythm.
The midfielder also took a critical look at the goal they conceded. In the mixed zone, he pointed out that it resulted from a cross and made it clear: “We need to work on that.”
It’s precisely this attitude that Vincent Kompany is likely to appreciate, despite the convincing result. Bayern made a strong offensive statement with five goals but still see room for improvement.
For Kimmich personally, the start could hardly have gone better. Two assists, a contribution to another goal, and strong performances in nearly every area: the Bayern star has certainly put an impressive end to his three-year personal assist drought in the Bundesliga.