All the best, Matthijs! After two years at FC Bayern, Matthijs de Ligt is leaving Munich to join Manchester United. The Dutch centre-back provided the fans of the German record champions with many wonderful moments, from match-winning goals to spectacular challenges. To mark the departure of our number 4, fcbayern.com takes a look back at four of the defender's highlights in a red and white shirt.
21 August 2022: First goal on his first start
He could hardly have imagined his first start going any better: 33 days after his move to the Munich giants, de Ligt was handed his first start in a Bayern jersey and celebrated a 7-0 thrashing of VfL Bochum. The game at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion proved to be the perfect debut for the Dutchman, who helped his keeper Manuel Neuer keep a clean sheet and bagged a goal himself at the other end. In the 25th minute, Joshua Kimmich swung in a corner to the back post, where de Ligt brushed off his opponent and rose to head the ball over the line to make it 2-0.
8 March 2023: Last-ditch goal-line clearance
Successful strikers are characterised by the famed instinct of knowing exactly where the ball will end up so they're in the right place at the right time to score. Defenders also have this instinct: they need the right timing in critical situations in their own goalmouth. The best proof: de Ligt's clearance in the second leg of the round of 16 of the 2022/23 Champions League campaign against Paris Saint-Germain (2-0). In the 38th minute, PSG midfielder Vitinha found himself in front of an empty goal and just had to fire home the ball. However, de Ligt came flying in at the last second and cleared the ball off the line with a sliding tackle, thwarting a huge chance for Paris to take the lead. The FCB defender was deservedly feted by his own fans. Bayern went on to win 2-0 and progressed to the quarter-finals.
8 April 2023: De Ligt's wonder strike against Freiburg
From distance straight into the corner: this strike from de Ligt in the away game at SC Freiburg was undoubtedly one of his best goals in an FC Bayern jersey. In the 51st minute, the Reds were linking up around the Freiburg penalty area when the ball landed in de Ligt's path. The Dutchman didn't think twice and just let fly. The ball flew 25 metres into the top right-hand corner as if it had been drawn there by a cord, leaving goalkeeper Mark Flekken with no chance. The goal wasn't just a sight to behold, crucially it also decided the game as the men from Munich came away from the Breisgau as 1-0 winners.
27 May 2023: De Ligt and Co crowned champions
De Ligt won two trophies with Bayern. In his very first game for FCB, he won the DFL Supercup against RB Leipzig (5-3). The centre-back and his team-mates also lifted a trophy after the last game of the 2022/23 campaign: thanks to Jamal Musiala's last-minute winner, the Reds secured the Bundesliga title on the final matchday at 1. FC Köln (2-1). It was the crowning glory to de Ligt's debut season with the German record champions.
The Netherlands international made a total of 73 appearances for Bayern. In 53 Bundesliga matches, 13 Champions League appearances, five DFB Cup ties and two DFL Supercup finals, he scored five goals and set up two more.
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