Has Bayern found an unexpected hero? Choupo-Moting entertains the Bundesliga at 33 and replaces Lewandowski in full glory

Bayern Munich have had a rather inconsistent start to the season. At times it struggled, it was clear that the team was missing a goal scorer like Robert Lewandowski. But now everything seems to be fine. Coach Julian Nagelsmann has found an unexpected hero. But he says he is not surprised.

A replacement for Lewandowski? Probably not in the winter

When Robert Lewandowski left for Barcelona in the summer, there were big questions about what would happen to Bayern next. Surprisingly, the Bavarian giant didn’t resort to any hasty transfers and didn’t bring anyone in to spearhead the move. Instead, Sadio Mané was brought in to strengthen the team.

More players were expected to be rotated on the spine. The primary name that was being bandied about was that of Mané, possibly Serge Gnabry or Thomas Muller. But it took coach Julian Nagelsmann a long time to find the right line-up right at the top.

Bayern were plagued by productivity. He lost several points because of it and therefore did not dominate the Bundesliga for an unexpectedly long time, when his place was held by Union Berlin. But after last weekend, everything is as it should be. And that’s thanks to a new hero.

It was expected that Bayern would try to find a new attacking star in the winter. But it seems that at least for this season, they will finish without a new star striker.

Choupo-Moting in the form of his life, having more fun than Lewandowski

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has always been seen as a great talent, but he has never fully fulfilled his potential. Whether it was at Hamburg, Nuremberg, Mainz, Schalke or Stoke City. At PSG he was more or less just a number and it has been the same at Bayern so far.

He has been at Munich since 2020 and it seems that his third season at the club is the one that will be pivotal in his career. At 33 years old, after the departure of Robert Lewandowski, even with the poor productivity of his competitors, he is getting space and making the most of it.

He has scored in the last seven games in a row, scoring nine goals and adding three assists. He also enjoys the game, he doesn’t play like a machine, he tries to entertain himself and the fans. As a result, it can be said that he is the new showman, recognised by the whole competition, and that he is having more fun than Lewandowski, who was too cold and machine-like.

Choupo-Moting, then, may well be Bayern’s attacking number one this season. He may not play all the games as coach Julian Nagelsmann will want to use different variations of the line-up, but he will always be able to rely on the Cameroon international because of his great character.

And would the German coach be surprised? Not at all. “His value is not only measured by the goals he scores. He is important for us as an end player who keeps the central defenders busy. We always knew he had these qualities,” Nagelsmann told DW.

“He is a key player. He keeps the defenders busy and creates space for us,” goalkeeper Manuel Neuer also praises him.

Source: Bayern Munich, DW, Bulinews, Transfermarkt