How Joshua Kimmich has come of age for Bayern Munich

It took just one moment of magic. In a game where Bayern Munich held back their predatory instincts in favour of pragmatism, a delightful first-half chip from Joshua Kimmich was all they needed to defeat Borussia Dortmund 1-0, and take one giant step towards an eighth successive title, with all odds on the Bundesliga title winners pointing to the Bavarians. 

It came out of the blue. The ball broke to Kimmich on the edge of the area, and in what seemed like slow motion, he lofted the ball delicately over the heads of the defenders and Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Bürki, who could only flail and flap his wrists in vain as it nestled in the corner of the net. It was a goal worthy of deciding a game, and perhaps even a title race, as Bayern strode clear of Dortmund into a seven-point lead at the top of the table. 

The past eight years for Bayern have been defined by superstars playing to their full potential, the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribéry, Xabi Alonso and many more delivering title after title while purveying the kind of football that most supporters can only dream about watching week-in, week-out. And so, it seems another Meisterschale trophy is destined for Munich, but the man who scored the decisive goal perhaps sits in another category to those famous names listed above.

Kimmich is, after all, a player who has evolved into something greater than could ever have been expected of him. As he came through the ranks at RB Leipzig, and then joined Bayern, he was primarily a right-back – a willing grafter and a firm tackler. Born in Rottweil in southwest Germany, he embodied all the snarling attributes of the dogs which take their name from that town, to the point where such an impudent finish would have seemed outlandish.

But his move to Bayern gradually brought out the silkier side of a player who clearly had bags of potential. Kimmich has now become one of Bayern’s most important players, an anchor at the base of midfield, spreading and switching play in a style that former Bayern midfielder Alonso would certainly be proud of. 

Indeed, a propensity for the occasional great goal has added another arrow to Kimmich’s quiver, meaning he is much more than a run-of-the-mill plodding defensive midfielder. Tottenham Hotspur found this out to their disadvantage in the Champions League earlier this season, as Kimmich swept in a sensational 25-yard strike to equalise on a night where Bayern would eventually run out 7-2 winners. 

While Bayern are frequently the hot favourites in the German football tips from Betfair, they have not enjoyed much success in the Champions League in recent seasons, by their exceptionally high standards at least. They haven’t reached the final since they last won the Champions League in 2013, where Dortmund were again the victims in the final at Wembley.

But a player like Kimmich in the heart of the team means they have a metronomic presence with an ability to stray from the beaten path if circumstances dictate it to be necessary. That’s what we saw in Bayern’s win over Dortmund, a player whose goalscoring ability pales in comparison with some of the attacking talent in Bayern’s team, but who decided to take the ball and produce a moment of magic that Lewandowski and Kingsley Coman would be proud of.

At 25, Kimmich is only just coming towards his prime years, and there is still improvement to be made. But for both club and country, he has already proved himself as one of the finest midfield players in the world, and there will be plenty more success for Bayern in the years ahead if they can hang onto him. 

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