Granit Xhaka vs. Joshua Kimmich: The Engines of Their Teams
When it comes to Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich, everything runs through Granit Xhaka and Joshua Kimmich. Xhaka has played nearly every available Bundesliga minute this season—1,881 out of 1,890—starting 20 out of 21 matches and only resting for the final nine minutes of Leverkusen’s 3-1 win over Gladbach on Matchday 18.
Kimmich, on the other hand, hasn’t had even those nine minutes off—he has played every single match in full so far. Their season stats are strikingly similar: Xhaka has two goals, six assists, and two yellow cards, showing remarkable discipline compared to his more temperamental past. Kimmich has one goal, the same six assists, and three yellow cards.
Dominating in Distance and Touches
While neither player has had an overwhelmingly spectacular season, they remain crucial figures on the field. Both cover incredible ground and dictate their teams’ attacks. Kimmich leads the entire Bundesliga in distance covered, averaging 12.33 kilometers per match, while Xhaka follows closely in third place with 11.80 km. When it comes to ball touches, Kimmich is in a league of his own, averaging 128.4 per game, while Xhaka ranks third with 97.2.
Kimmich’s dominance in midfield is even more remarkable considering he was originally not expected to play there this season. At the start of the campaign, Bayern planned to use Aleksandar Pavlović and João Palhinha as their main central midfielders, with Kimmich slated for a right-back role.
Florian Wirtz vs. Jamal Musiala: The Creative Forces
The true spectacle in this matchup doesn’t come from Xhaka or Kimmich—it comes from two of the Bundesliga’s biggest young stars: Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala. Born just 66 days apart in 2003, Musiala is the elder of the two, and both are among the most exciting attacking players in Germany.
Their roles on the pitch are fluid. While they are natural No. 10s, they frequently drift wide, drop deep, or push forward as makeshift strikers. Their unpredictability makes them incredibly difficult to defend against, especially given their exceptional dribbling skills.
Both are also prolific scorers from midfield. Musiala has netted 10 goals this season, while Wirtz is right behind him with nine. However, Wirtz stands out in one key area—his playmaking ability. The Leverkusen star leads his team with nine assists, while Musiala has managed just two, despite playing alongside one of the world’s deadliest finishers in Harry Kane.
Patrik Schick vs. Harry Kane: The Strikers in Focus
Harry Kane has already made history in the Bundesliga, establishing himself as the league’s most efficient goal scorer. Among players with at least 25 career Bundesliga goals, the Englishman ranks first in goals per minute, scoring every 77 minutes—better than Erling Haaland (87), Robert Lewandowski (100), and even the legendary Gerd Müller (105). Kane has found the net 21 times this season, including nine penalties.
On the other side, Patrik Schick has been on a remarkable scoring run of his own. While his season total of 14 goals may seem lower at first glance, context is key—he missed most of the first half of the season due to injury and played second fiddle to Victor Boniface. However, since returning to the starting lineup, Schick has been unstoppable, scoring all 14 of his goals in his last 11 matches. His efficiency in the 2024/25 season is staggering—he’s averaging a goal every 60 minutes.
A Clash of Key Players
As Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich prepare to face off, the performances of these six players could very well determine the outcome. Xhaka and Kimmich will battle for control in midfield, Wirtz and Musiala will look to unlock defenses with their creativity, and Kane and Schick will be tasked with delivering the final blow. With so much talent on display, this matchup promises to be a high-stakes showdown between two of Germany’s finest teams.