FC Bayern ready for Bayer Leverkusen? Müller and Pavlović are convincing

Thanks to their new dream duo, FC Bayern are in position for the big game in Leverkusen. A young star is particularly impressive – will he soon be in the national team?

Julian Buhl reports from the Allianz Arena

Thomas Müller dragged a black trolley suitcase behind him as he strolled into the catacombs towards the exit of the Allianz Arena. He didn’t have the framed jersey with the number 500 that captain Manuel Neuer had given him on his anniversary with him and instead left it in a laundry box in the team cabin.

“I hope they still have room for it in the museum,” he said with a laugh after his 500th competitive win, which he celebrated in his 690th game for Bayern. A previously unattained milestone that he was the first Bayern player to ever achieve.

“Thomas Müller is a phenomenon, that is an incredible achievement,” said President Herbert Hainer. “I got a jersey, the team cheered for me – everything was wonderful. But next week we’re against Leverkusen,” said Müller. But he is “not a fan of all these anniversaries,” the 34-year-old continued. “The feeling of winning is the beautiful thing. We want to experience that in Leverkusen too. I want to chase that.”

With a win next weekend in the duel between first and second, Munich, who are two points behind in the table, can take over the top of the Bundesliga. Müller and Co. created the conditions for this with Saturday’s 3-1 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Müller perfectly prepared the important 1-1 equalizer shortly before half-time with a perfect pass to goalscorer Aleksandar Pavlović, who hit the goal from a technically demanding angle from an acute angle.

“If he goes in there and receives the ball so smoothly, then he has to do it,” joked Müller, who was also involved in the 2-1 win by decisively irritating the opposing goalkeeper in the header duel.

The 19-year-old Pavlović, who only celebrated his goal debut last week in Augsburg with his shot on the turn to make it 1-0, continues to live his dream. “I was a ball boy here for several years. To now score a goal in front of these fans is just fantastic. FC Bayern means everything to me,” said Pavlović.

Müller is something of a mentor for the young star, who also grew up in Munich and trained in Bayern’s youth teams. The numerous advice in training was now followed by the first joint goal co-production by the dream duo “Müllović”.

Müller continued the praise from the past few weeks. “It doesn’t surprise me. Aleks has to do his thing. He’s a footballer who, thank God, doesn’t worry too much,” said the vice-captain. “It’s very strong and hard-working and complements Leon (Goretzka; editor’s note) very well at the moment. The two get along well and harmonize with each other.” Regardless of his goal, Pavlović “actually has other, more important tasks in his position and he does them quite well,” said Müller.

Pavlović once again impressed with his overview and duel strength in defense as well as an outstanding pass rate of 97 percent – 69 of his 71 balls played reached his teammate. With 12.9 kilometers, he had the best mileage of all players and earned a t-online grade of 1. With this package he is making the absence of Joshua Kimmich, who injured his shoulder, momentarily forgotten.