Joshua Kimmich’s role this season for Bayern Munich is in the spotlight.
The 29-year-old was at the center of Bayern’s failed quest last season for a new No. 6 — the jersey he wears and the position he had played at the club — under Thomas Tuchel, before team needs shifted him to right-back for the Rückrunde.
Kimmich shined there for his club, and then for his country at EURO 2024…which may have inspired current head coach Vincent Kompany to craft a new role for Kimmich alongside defensive midfielders Aleksandar Pavlović and João Palhinha.
While back in midfield now, Kimmich’s role also has him shifting into right-back positions, especially as the team advances the ball. But all of this is not appearing to remove his centrality or his influence on the game, as this stat from WhoScored shows:
Most accurate passes in a Bundesliga match this season
◉ 131 – Joshua Kimmich vs Werder Bremen
◉ 118 – Joshua Kimmich vs Holstein Kiel
Can Kompany really have the best of both worlds with Kimmich — and bring out his qualities as both a right-back and a central midfielder at once?
Looking for more thoughts and analysis on the mega-matchup between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga this weekend? Awesome, then check out our Bavarian Podcast Works — Preview Show where we break it all down! You can get the show on Patreon, Spotify, or below:
