“I blocked the opponent’s best opportunity” Kim Min-jae becomes Munich’s ‘no-loss insurance’… 5G consecutive clean sheets

[사진]OSEN DB.

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[OSEN=고성환 기자] ‘Defensive monster’ Kim Min-jae (28) contributed to Bayern Munich’s 5 consecutive scoreless wins.

Bayern Munich defeated St. Pauli 1-0 in the 10th round of the 2024-2025 Bundesliga held at Millerntor Stadion in Hamburg, Germany at 11:30 pm on the 9th (Korean time).

As a result, Bayern went undefeated in 10 games (8 wins, 2 draws) since the opening game. In the leaderboard, he maintained his sole lead with 26 points. On the other hand, St. Pauli was in danger of falling into the relegation zone, gaining only 8 points in 10 games.

Bayern used a 4-2-3-1 formation. Harry Kane, Kingsley Coman, Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sane, Leon Goretzka, Yojua Kimmich, Alphonso Davis, Minjae Kim, Dayot Upamecano, Rafael Guerreiro and Manuel Neuer started as starters.

It wasn’t that easy of a match. Bayern has been unable to break through St. Pauli’s defensive wall, perhaps because of their recent tight schedule. Still, Musiala’s incredible wonder goal earned them three points. Musiala’s cannonball non-rotating shot in the 22nd minute of the first half hit the crossbar and was sucked into the goal.

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Of course, Musiala’s score was decisive, but without a solid defense centered on Kim Min-jae, it was difficult to guarantee victory. Kim Min-jae covered the space behind him with his quick feet even in an extreme formation where all 10 field players crossed over the center line. Even in the box, he did not lose concentration and blocked the opponent’s attack well.

It’s not like St. Pauli didn’t have opportunities. He also created a counterattack scene by catching the ball from a high position. However, the team was thwarted by Kim Min-jae’s defense, which did not spare his body. In the 21st minute of the second half, Kim Min-jae blocked Kimmich’s dangerous pass miss with a tackle and exchanged a warning.

Thanks to this, Bayern completed five consecutive official games without conceding a goal. Starting with Bochum (5-0), against Mainz (4-0), against Union Berlin (3-0), against Benfica (1-0), and against St. Pauli (1-0), they did not give up a single goal. It’s Kim Min-jae and Bayern.

According to soccer statistics media ‘Foot Mob’, on this day, Minjae Kim recorded a pass success rate of 93% (122/131), 5 clearances, 1 interception, and 2 interceptions. The rating was also high at 7.4 points. It was unfortunate that he lost all five ground ball duels, but overall, it was a performance that showed why Kimmich was recognized as a ‘monster’.

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Germany’s RAN also said, “Kim Min-jae proved to be a dependable player. He blocked the opposing players’ bold attacks. He especially showed off his header ability and was good at build-up. In the 66th minute, he received a yellow card and blocked St. Pauli’s best opportunity. He praised Kim Min-jae, saying, “I put it out.” The rating was also the highest, along with Musiala and Kimmich, at 2 points.

‘Avent Zeitung’ gave Minjae Kim a rating of 3. The media commented, “Korean player Kim Min-jae is currently a clean-line insurance in the center of Bayern’s defense. Even in St. Pauli, he was calm and rarely rushed under the opponent’s pressure. He received a warning in a very difficult situation. It was the first warning he received in his 10th game.”

‘Spox’ also gave an acceptable evaluation. The media gave Kim Min-jae a rating of 3, saying, “Like Upamecano, Min-jae Kim was a little shaken in the beginning, but he did not pay the price. He became more stable as time went by. He received his first yellow card of the season for a rough foul in the middle of the second half.” .

Meanwhile, Minjae Kim will join the Korean national team after this game. He has been called by coach Hong Myung-bo and is scheduled to play in a two-game series against Kuwait and Palestine for the 2026 North and Central America World Cup Asia 3rd qualifying round. Kim Min-jae is playing a tight schedule until the end, starting in all games held between the October A-match and the November A-match.

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[사진] ⓒGettyimages (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), Bayern Munich social media.

Seonghwan Ko ([email protected])