Joshua Kimmich has developed into one of the most well-rounded players in the world. Essentially the Crystal Dunn of men’s soccer, he’s one of the best players in Europe regardless of what position he lines up at, from fullback to midfield. In part because I built my FIFA Ultimate Team around him, it was devastating to watch him leave the pitch in tears with an apparent injury in a 3-2 Bayern Munich victory on Saturday in Der Klassiker.
Kimmich left the pitch after 36 minutes against rival Borussia Dortmund. The 25-year-old Germany international appeared to injure himself while trying to stop Erling Haaland on a breakaway. He failed to stop the striker and immediately knew he was in trouble (and pain).
Joshua Kimmich Injury vs. Dortmund
You never want to see any player injured, so it hard to watch the desolation in Kimmich’s face as he was helped off the pitch. (Kudos to Haaland and the other Dortmund players paying their respects to Kimmich.)
Joshua Kimmich comes off the pitch with an apparent injury. pic.twitter.com/ZCp7jR19GY
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 7, 2020
About 10 minutes after Kimmich left the pitch, Marco Reus fired Dortmund into the lead.
MARCO REUS!
The Dortmund captain breaks the deadlock pic.twitter.com/kGHSXbGG9Y— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 7, 2020
But Bayern didn’t go into halftime trailing. David Alaba converted on a set piece routine (via a healthy deflection) to equalize in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time (a length of time made possible by the Kimmich injury).
David Alaba, that was special!
Bayern level vs. Dortmund. pic.twitter.com/oPtQ0dE2iL— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 7, 2020
Bayern took the lead moments into the second half through Robert Lewandowski, who had a first-half goal ruled out for being marginally offside. It was his record 24th goal in Der Klassiker.
WHO ELSE? Robert Lewandowski puts Bayern up! pic.twitter.com/Z1MiDBFnMd
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 7, 2020
Gio Reyna had a great chance to equalize but his relatively tame effort was palmed away by Manuel Neuer. The American was subbed out in the 69th minute, replaced by Thorgan Hazard. Bayern Munich’s American, Chris Richards, was an unused substitute.
Staying in Concacaf, Bayern’s electrifying left back Alphonso Davies missed the match with a long-term ankle injury. But he still made an appearance in the broadcast, appearing live on the ESPN+ halftime show.
Alphonso Davies’ halftime analysis pic.twitter.com/eP9dwOYUBZ
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 7, 2020
Kimmich is one of my favorite players in the game right now, but Davies might be one of my favorite people in the game right now.
In the 80th minute, Leroy Sané added to the lead with a devastating counterattack. Must be nice when you can bring a player of that quality off the bench.
Bayern RAPID on the counter
Leroy Sane scores in his first Der Klassiker. pic.twitter.com/jEuGCVFfBJ— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 7, 2020
Haaland did pull one back in the 83rd minute following a lovely chipped pass from Raphaël Guerreiro. Haaland did what few can do, dancing around Neuer before scoring.
Haaland finally gets his goal!
What a gameDortmund 2-3 Bayern pic.twitter.com/TLuNaXgg8F
— ESPN (@espn) November 7, 2020
Lewandowski had another goal called back for offside in stoppage time but Bayern held on for the 3-2 victory to jump ahead of RB Leipzig to the top of the Bundesliga table, three points ahead of third-place Dortmund.
