Kim Min-jae explodes with a header goal! "38,000 fans went wild"... Local media spotlight intensifies as Munich defeats EPL's Aston Villa 2-1

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich, known as the "monster defender" for South Korea's national team, once again showcased his presence with a spectacular header goal. German local media also focused intensely on Kim Min-jae's performance.

On the 7th (Korean time), Bayern Munich secured a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa (England) in a pre-season friendly match held at Hong Kong Kai Tak Stadium.

Kim Min-jae started the match as the left center-back in a 4-2-3-1 formation, partnering with Jonathan Tavares in central defense. Playing for 63 minutes, he recorded two tackles, two clearances, and two blocks, stabilizing the backline effectively.

His build-up play also shone brightly. Kim Min-jae achieved an impressive 95% pass completion rate and successfully linked eight passes advancing toward the attacking zone, serving as the starting point for offensive plays from deep positions.

He even scored directly himself. In the 37th minute of the first half, with the score tied at 0-0, Bayern Munich earned a free kick on the left flank. Tom Bischof delivered a sharp cross toward the goal. Kim Min-jae instantly surged toward the near post and skillfully redirected the ball with his head. The ball flew past the goalkeeper's reach into the opposite net.

As Kim Min-jae's goal went in, the stadium erupted. German outlet Belts reported: "Munich defeated its most high-profile opponent so far during its Asia tour ahead of the new season," adding that "Kim Min-jae scored the opening goal in the 37th minute, followed by Luis Diaz creating an additional goal with his outstanding individual ability."

Aston Villa is a strong team that won the 2025–2026 UEFA Europa League (UEL). They demonstrated top-tier European competitiveness by finishing fourth in England's Premier League (EPL). However, they could not overcome Munich, the "undisputed number one" of Germany's Bundesliga.

Belts noted: "Although Aston Villa will face Paris Saint-Germain (France), the UEFA Champions League (UCL) winner, in next week's UEFA Super Cup," it added that "Munich took control of the match against Aston Villa."

The report continued: "Arijon Ibrahimović, Aleksandar Pavlović, and Tom Bischof attempted long-range shots but failed to convert them into goals. Ultimately, set pieces proved decisive. Bischof delivered a free kick toward the goal, and South Korean defender Kim Min-jae shook the net with a header."

Notably, Belts also detailed the intense atmosphere at the venue after Kim Min-jae's goal. The outlet stated: "In a stadium packed with 38,176 official spectators, Kim Min-jae received roaring cheers after scoring with a header."

Munich built on Kim Min-jae's opening goal to secure the victory. In the 28th minute of the second half, Diaz overcame the opposing defense with exceptional individual skills and scored a spectacular additional goal, extending the lead to 2-0.

In the final moments of the match, captain Manuel Neuer's crucial saves stood out. Munich conceded an equalizer from João Gomes of Aston Villa in the 38th minute of the second half and faced intense pressure from the opponent. However, Neuer blocked decisive shots, maintaining a one-goal lead until the end.

Kim Min-jae's performance also received high praise in statistics. Football data platform FootMob awarded Kim Min-jae a rating of 8.1, the second-highest score among all players from both teams. The highest rating of 8.9 went to Bischof, who assisted Kim Min-jae's opening goal.

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*This content was translated by AI.