Will Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), who was pushed out of the competition for the starting position at the end of the season, receive a chance in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League in the ‘War of Stars’?

Bayern Munich will play the first leg of the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League semifinals against Real Madrid (Spain) at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany at 4 a.m. on May 1.

Bayern Munich, which has to play the second leg of the semifinals away to Real Madrid on May 8, must absolutely hold on to the first leg in front of its home fans.

It is an important game, and Kim Min-jae, who has been pushed out as a substitute for a while, is likely to get the opportunity.

Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel said at the official press conference before the game about the injury status of the central defenders, saying, “We have to watch the final training, but I cannot say that both Matthias De Ligt and Dayot Upamecano are 100%.”

German media outlet Sprot1 then reported, “De Ligt did not participate in the final training before the Real Madrid match.”

As the two central defenders are not in perfect physical condition, there is a greater possibility that Kim Min-jae will play in the first leg of the semifinals. UEFA also expects Kim Min-jae to be Bayern Munich's starting defender in the first leg of the semifinals. For Kim Min-jae, this is an opportunity to show his presence again at the end of the season. Kim Min-jae, who left Naples (Italy) last summer and joined Bayern Munich, immediately took over the starting position and played very well. However, he had difficulty competing for the starting position after attending the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in January and February. Eric Dier, who joined through the winter transfer market, gained the trust of Manager Klopp and advanced to the starting lineup, while Kim Min-jae spent a lot of time on the bench. As his playing time decreased, there were rumors of a transfer. However, Kim Min-jae sweated quietly and recently played more than 45 minutes between starting and replacing, adding to his strength. If Kim Min-jae becomes a starter, he will have to compete with world-class players. Real Madrid has many world-class players, including the Brazilian national team's Vinicius and Rodrygo and England's new hope, Jude Bellingham. It is not easy, but Kim Min-jae has recently recovered his performance by playing consistently, so we can look forward to his performance against Real Madrid. His performance against Real Madrid could be an important indicator not only for the rest of his season but also in the race for a starting spot next season.  스포츠토토