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Kim Min-jae returns to the starting lineup after a long absence
It will be interesting to see if Kim Min-Jae will start again in this match.
Bayern Munich will take on Union Berlin in the 30th round of the 2023-24 Bundesliga at the Stadion an der Alten Försterlei in Berlin, Germany, at 1:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 21. Munich is currently in second place with 63 points, while Union Berlin is in 13th place with 29 points.
Ahead of the match, several media outlets predicted Munich's lineup. Global soccer publication Goal.com predicted that Harry Kane, Mathis Tell, Jamal Musial, Thomas Muller, Leon Goretzka, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Alfonso Davies, Eric Dier, Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Kimmich, and Manuel Neuer would start.
"With the focus shifting to the UEFA Champions League (UCL) this season, Tottenham could rotate Dayo Upamecano, Kim Min-jae, Pavlovic, Muller and Tell," said Goal.com.
German outlet Bavarian Football disagreed, suggesting that Kane, Tell, Muller, Musial, Goretzka, Pavlovic, Davies, Kim Min-jae, Upamecano, Kimmich, and Neuer would be the first to start. "Kim Min-jae and Upamecano are likely to start and give Dyer and De Ligt a rest," Bavarian Football explained.
Kim Min-Jae has been in a Munich shirt this season. From the start of the season, he has been a regular in the starting lineup. While Upamecano and De Ligt were injured on and off, Kim played a grueling schedule. He played full time in every game in both league and cup competitions. He was Munich's first-choice center back.
But recently, his position has been shaken. In the winter transfer window, Dier joined Munich from Tottenham Hotspur and began to start in place of Kim. Coincidentally, Munich's win rate was high when Dier was on the field, and Tuchel continued to play the De Ligt/Dier center back combination.
Things were going well, but a 0-2 loss to Dortmund in the 27th round of the Bundesliga left Tuchel in a quandary. Ahead of the UCL quarterfinal first leg against Arsenal, Tuchel made a change at center back against Heidenheim in the 28th round. De Ligt and Dier were replaced by Kim Min-Jae and Upamecano. The result was not favorable. Munich took a 2-0 lead but conceded three goals in the second half.
The reviews for Kim Min-Jae were not favorable. "Thomas Tuchel gave Matthias De Ligt and Eric Dier unnecessary rests and let them down," said German outlet Kicker. In the case of Kim Min-Jae, the question arises whether it was a lack of confidence or a lack of ability. It was an unnecessary defeat. Munich's defense was what broke them down. It showed once again why Minjae and Upamecano have lost their place in Munich's starting center back duo."
Afterward, Kim was back on the bench. He missed the UCL quarterfinal first leg against Arsenal and didn't feature against Cologne in round 29. De Ligt, Dyer and Upamecano started against Cologne, but only Kim was not selected. Kim started the UCL quarterfinal second leg from the bench and was substituted in the 76th minute by Nusar Mazrawi at left fullback.
This is a good time for Kim to start. With the game coming so soon after the UCL quarterfinals, Dier and De Ligt could be rested. With Munich ahead of Union Berlin on objective power and Leverkusen already clinched the league title, there is no reason for Munich to push for this game.