In December, Bayern Munich’s performance covered both ends of the spectrum. Bayern crushed Heidenheim, Shakhtar Donetsk, and RB Leipzig. Unfortunately, Bayern suffered a 1-0 DFB-Pokal elimination at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen. Injuries finally caught up to Bayern, as Vincent Kompany also lost his first Bundesliga match against Mainz.
On the bright side, Bayern head into the winter break with a four-point lead over Leverkusen in the Bundesliga Table. With two games remaining in the Champions League group stage, Bayern are sitting comfortably in tenth place. Bayern will be heavy favorites against Feyenoord and Slovan Bratislava, creating a reasonable chance to earn a top eight bye.
The biggest risers in the updated rankings are Michael Olise (+7) and Daniel Peretz (+5). Leon Goretzka and Sacha Boey saw the biggest drops (-4).
This monthly series will combine Kompany’s pecking order with on-field performances. The first 11 players aren’t necessarily the starting XI (due to position issues) but players out with injuries will be relegated to the bottom of the list, starting at #24 in this edition.
1) Jamal Musiala
Musiala’s brilliant dribbling, passing, and finishing have cemented his status as Bayern’s most consistent attacker this season. Every other attacker has battled through injuries and slumps, but Musiala has appeared in all but two matches and delivered incredible performances.
2) Joshua Kimmich
Kimmich has run parallel to Musiala in terms of consistency, playing 90 minutes in every single Bayern match this season and somehow performing at a world class level. Kimmich is the only player who can reliably play next to Pavlović, Goretzka, and Palhinha in the midfield. If Bayern didn’t have the best player in the world, Kimmich would be easily be at the top of these rankings.
3) Alphonso Davies
At the beginning of the season, Bayern fans were debating whether Davies was even worth fighting for. Davies has responded with the best season of his career (besides, perhaps, the treble winning campaign). Davies would be wise to sign his next contract in January to avoid any distractions and still maximize his earnings.
4) Michael Olise
Paired with the return of Sané, Olise struggled through November with zero goals and one assist. The French winger bounced back in December with a brace against Shakhtar Donetsk and three assists in his five starts. He has cemented his role as Bayern’s right wing of the future.
5) Harry Kane
Kane missed four matches with a thigh injury but was able to return early for the Leipzig match. Kane and his wingers need to get on the same page regarding crosses (location, depth, height, etc.), but Kane is a hat trick machine who is the only true number nine on the roster.
6) Dayot Upamecano
Upamecano was absent for the Mainz loss (injury) and will miss the Gladbach game (yellow card accumulation). Other than that, Upamecano’s play has been solid and the Bayern goalkeepers have to come out of the box to be involved in the play.
7) Kim Min-jae
Like Upamecano, Kim’s play has been mostly positive due to an aggressive approach that forces opposing attackers to connect multiple perfect passes to break down Bayern’s backline. He got burned by Loïs Openda early in the Leipzig game but so does everybody else who tries to apply pressure on Openda.
8) Leroy Sané
It’s weird to remember a time when Sané didn’t start on the left wing even though it just started this month. Kompany and Davies have done an admirable job easing him into the position. Olise has also switched sides with Sané as needed, giving the Bayern offense more flexibility, freedom, and creativity.
9) Aleksandar Pavlović
After a two-month injury spell, Pavlović has already re-inserted himself as the primary choice as the pivot midfielder. His passing accuracy (94%) is mind-boggling, especially given how many attempts switch the field or find Kane and Musiala being hounded by multiple defenders. Pavlović only has one yellow card this season and should increase that number to establish more physicality to his game.
10) Konrad Laimer
Laimer’s endless energy and attacking prowess has earned him plenty of minutes at right back while Sacha Boey and Josip Stanišić work back from injury. In December, Laimer’s chemistry with Olise has benefited both players in the final third.
11) Leon Goretzka
Goretzka probably deserves to be a little higher in the rankings, especially since he featured in all five matches in December. The front office’s storm cloud over him will always weigh him down, and the return of Pavlović will limit his time moving forward. Once Palhinha returns, it’s possible that Goretzka gets a permanent seat on the bench next to Eric Dier.
12) Daniel Peretz
In five December appearances, Peretz failed to earn a clean sheet. This is the price Bayern has paid for a 24-year old goalkeeper receiving a meager 107 minutes last season before being thrust unexpectedly onto the pitch. He certainly has shown flashes of potential but needs consistent minutes. Peretz will be a loan candidate next summer as the Manuel Neuer dilemma persists in Munich.
13) Manuel Neuer
Neuer will remain the unquestioned number one keeper at Bayern for as long as he desires. Unfortunately, he only played 16 minutes in which he cracked a rib on the first red card of his professional career. Neuer is still good between the pipes but he is no longer the savior that he once was.
14) Kingsley Coman
Coman has been fantastic defensively and in possession, but the King of France has failed to record a goal or assist in his last seven appearances. Another injury has sidelined Coman and conceded the starting job to Sané. Coman’s contract doesn’t make him an attractive transfer target to other clubs unless finds a groove and stops sending balls into the upper deck.
15) Serge Gnabry
Like Coman, Gnabry’s dry spell (zero goals and one assist in his last 11 appearances) ended with an injury. If Kompany can teach Gnabry the offside rule and Coman to lean forward, both experienced wingers can play a pivotal role in the Rückrunde.
16) Thomas Müller
Müller’s unique style of creating space and clever passes is completely mismatched with the current Bayern attack. This will be a forgettable season when Bayern fans remember him hoisting the World Cup and Champions League trophy (twice!).
17) Raphaël Guerreiro
It’s odd that Guerreiro has played the ninth most minutes this season but largely goes unnoticed. He logged decent minutes again in December but the return of Hiroki Itō and Stanišić will likely bump him down the depth chart. His versatility as a midfielder maintains his status as a utility player.
18) Sacha Boey
Boey is working his way back to fitness and should be fully available in January. After being depleted at the right back position thus far, Kompany will have some decisions to make during the Rückrunde.
19) Mathys Tel
Through 12 appearances and 356 minutes, Tel has failed to score a goal or provide an assist. The teenager is clearly struggling with confidence and needs to go out on loan ASAP. He desperately needs quality minutes and that is not currently available for him at Bayern.
20) Eric Dier
Upamecano and Kim are sure to burn out eventually and Dier is the perpetual veteran who can provide those supplementary minutes. However, Kompany clearly prefers to throw himself on the pitch before giving Dier a fair opportunity.
21) Sven Ulreich
Sven’s transition is almost complete. He’s half a season away from officially becoming the assistant coach who voluntarily takes the sideline yellow card so the manager can keep yelling at the referees. Never change, Sven.
22) Adam Aznou
Aznou earned a whooping two minutes to close out the Shakhtar match. It’s cool that he’s officially competed in the Champions league but he’s ready for the top flight division. He’s a popular loan candidate in January, which is great as long as he’s getting minutes.
23) Arijon Ibrahimović
On the day before he turned 19, Ibrahimović also snuck in late to the Shakhtar match. He’s battled injuries this season but it will be interesting to see how Bayern utilizes him moving forward.
24) João Palhinha (injured)
It’s a shame that Palhinha got injured on international duty after he had finally broken into the starting XI following the Pavlović injury. Palhinha started running this month and should be back with the squad in January.
25) Josip Stanišić (injured)
Stanišić trained with the rest of the team in December and will hopefully return in January.
26) Hiroki Itō (injured)
Itō’s recovery hit a roadblock and required an additional surgery. There is no timetable for his official return.
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