This guest post was written by Zach Lowy, Chief Editor and Social Media Manager of BreakingTheLines.com. Zach is a successful journalist and can be followed at @ZachLowy on X and @zachlowy.bsky.social on Bluesky. Zach’s work can also be found on FotMob, BetUS and others.
After a shaky run of form that has seen them suffer their first Bundesliga defeat of the season and draw at newly promoted HSV, Bayern Munich will be looking to bounce back with a victory against Hoffenheim, and they’ll be counting on Josip Stanišić to return to full fitness and deliver a top-notch display in defense.
Born on April 2, 2000, Stanišić was raised by Croatian parents in Munich and bounced around from lower-league clubs like TSV 1860 Munich and SC Fürstenfeldbruck, before earning a move to Bayern Munich in January 2017, where he rose through the ranks and eventually made his Bundesliga debut in a 1-1 draw vs. Union Berlin on April 10, 2021. Stanišić established himself as a prominent rotational figure under Julian Nagelsmann before eventually deciding to head out on loan and join Bayer Leverkusen.
It proved to be an intelligent decision, with Stanišić becoming a regular starter under Xabi Alonso and helping Die Werkself win a domestic double (including a maiden Bundesliga title) as well as reach the UEFA Europa League Final, cementing his status in Leverkusen lore alongside the likes of Ricardo Faty and Florian Wirtz. He then returned to Munich and signed a contract extension through 2029, where he helped Bayern restore their broken dynasty under new manager Vincent Kompany, playing 26 times in all competitions and proving to be a versatile performer across the backline.
It’s been more of the same this season for Stanišić, who, despite being hindered by an inner ligament injury and a capsular injury, has nevertheless provided 2 goals and 3 assists in 20 appearances and proven essential both at right-back and left-back. He looks set to win a sixth consecutive Bundesliga title, with Bayern sitting six points above Borussia Dortmund and nine above Hoffenheim, and he is also shaping up to have a major role for Croatia in the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
But against HSV at the weekend, Stanišić struggled to impose himself. Just when Bayern looked headed for a comeback win, William Mikelbrencis crossed Stanišić like a pretzel and left him in his dust before firing in a cross to the near post, where another Croatian defender wearing the #44 – Luka Vušković – headed home to snatch a point for the newly promoted side. All things considered, Stanišić won 2 out of 6 ground duels and lost possession 8 times in the stalemate. It was a rare off day for a player who has been lauded for his consistency and high in-game IQ.
At nearly 26 years of age, Stanišić has done it all, from dominating in defense for his boyhood club to excelling for the Croatian national team to leading Leverkusen to a historic season. It’s why the likes of Michael-John Tate have lauded him as one of the top young defenders in Europe, and it’s why, whether on the right side or left side of defense, he has established himself as an indispensable figure in Kompany’s rearguard. And with Alphonso Davies easing his way back to full fitness, it seems likely he’ll be stuck to the right side at the expense of Konrad Laimer, where he can focus on shutting down counter-attacks and holding his own in 1v1 situations.
Bayern are entering a vicious fixture list that will see them host Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig in the DFB-Pokal before traveling to relegation battlers Werder Bremen, followed by league matches against Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund. Stanišić looks set to play a crucial role as Bayern attempt to achieve yet another trophy-laden campaign, but only time will tell if he will be participating in their upcoming match against Hoffenheim after suffering an injury during Tuesday’s training session. When challenging for the ball, Jonathan Tah unintentionally stepped on Josip Stanišić at full speed, catching the same foot where he had recently suffered an ankle ligament injury. While he attempted to rejoin the session, he decided to cut it short soon after and head to the locker room.
With Sacha Boey heading to Galatasaray, Raphaël Guerreiro and Davies working their way back from injury, and Laimer still not 100% fit, Bayern are desperately thin at the fullback position. They can ill afford to be without any more key players as they prepare to take on a Hoffenheim side that has won five in a row – four by a two-goal margin. Kompany will be desperately hoping that Stanišić can make a speedy return to full fitness and help Bayern return to winning ways at the weekend.
This guest post was written by Zach Lowy, Chief Editor and Social Media Manager of BreakingTheLines.com. Zach is a successful journalist and can be followed at @ZachLowy on X and @zachlowy.bsky.social on Bluesky. Zach’s work can also be found on FotMob, BetUS and others.
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