Bayern Munich notched up a crucial 2-1 victory over Union Berlin in the round of 16 of the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday, and while it wasn’t the prettiest performance from the Bavarians, several players stood out in a tight encounter at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.

Man of the Match – Joshua Kimmich

While it wasn’t a perfect performance from any individual Bayern player, Joshua Kimmich proved himself once again as good ol’ reliable as he led Bayern in a performance that was incredibly frustrating from the team’s point of view. Kimmich provided a solid effort and ultimately provided the key assist for Harry Kane’s goal. It certainly wasn’t the brightest MOTM performance of his, but Union made it hard to look pretty in the German capital on Wednesday.

Players to Watch

• Dayot Upamecano: In a backline that did not put its best foot forward, Upamecano was the one solid piece. This backline is clearly tired and making mistakes, but Upamecano was the exception who held the defense together. This defense badly needs some reinforcement as Davies and Itō will hopefully return to the lineup soon in a large capacity.
• Leon Goretzka: Leon Goretzka was thrown into the game to relieve Aleksander Pavlović and it is clear that Goretzka would need to put in a feisty effort to hold off a relentless Union Berlin team. Luckily for Bayern, Goretzka is the ultimate scrappy player to fend off a scrappy Berlin side and Goretzka, while nowhere near perfect, held his own against the home side.
• Harry Kane: The English striker has certainly cooled off in recent matches, as was expected when putting up a near impossible run of form early in the season. Kane proved why he was ultimately brought to the club, to deliver important goals when it matters and he did exactly that. He was only able to take two attempts at goal, and that is a massive kudos to the Union barracks.

What do you think?

What do you think about the awards? Who else do you think deserved a shout? Let us know in the comments!

“Even when things get tough, Joshua Kimmich always steps up for us. He doesn’t make headlines, but he’s always there.”

Final Thoughts

The victory over Union Berlin was far from pretty, but it keeps Bayern Munich’s hopes of winning a domestic double alive. The challenge now is to maintain this form and momentum for the remainder of the season.