Sebastian Rode Leaves Bayern Munich with Quandary After Dinamo Zagreb Win

A dead rubber like Bayern Munich's Champions League Group F match against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday is usually not the kind of match in which a player can make a big difference in his career.

Both sides had little to play for, with the Bavarian giants having already won the group and the hosts having been condemned to last place. Yet for Sebastian Rode, it was a huge opportunity to make an impression on coach Pep Guardiola and the greater football world. And the 25-year-old took it brilliantly.

Heading into the fixture, Rode had started just one match in the current campaign, a 3-0 win against Darmstadt in September in which he scored and gave an assist. Despite his strong performance in that game, he had only made three more appearances otherwise until Wednesday.

In total, he'd played just 146 minutes in all competitions. True, Rode was injured throughout October, but it's hard to deny he's been underused. But on Wednesday, he made an excellent appeal.

Given a rare start, Rode took to the pitch with a positive attitude and an eagerness to show what he can do.

There were other players in a similar position—namely Julian Green, who struggled, and direct competition in central midfield in the form of young Joshua Kimmich—but Rode really took the initiative and was head-and-shoulders above those teammates who also had something to prove. He was probably Bayern's second-best player behind match-winner Robert Lewandowski.

According to the official UEFA website, Rode completed 65 of 71 passes, and only Kimmich covered more ground than the ex-Eintracht Frankfurt man, who put in some 11.9 km.

He twice forced goalkeeper Eduardo to save for the hosts, but it was his delivery that stood out most: Rode played a perfectly weighted through ball to assist Lewandowski's second goal on 64 minutes, and he later set up the Poland international with a great (but ultimately wasted) chance to get his hat-trick.

The drive from midfield into attack was often catalyzed by Rode, who played a role that perhaps would be more expected of Arturo Vidal than the Frankfurt academy graduate.

Rode's fine display against Zagreb comes days after he came on and delivered a strong performance as a substitute against Borussia Monchengladbach. And his strong run of form comes just weeks before the January transfer window opens, and amid a flurry of media speculation over his future. 

Bild (in German) reported last month that Bayer Leverkusen are keen to sign the Bayern man, following a serious injury to summer signing Charles Aranguiz that put the Chilean's future in question. And earlier this week, Kicker (in German) revealed that Rode is on a shortlist of midfielders Schalke are considering signing, along with Maximilian Arnold and Gokhan Inler.

To date, Rode has kept a cool head and been rather polite about his situation. His agent last week (via Sport1, in German) denied rumors that he was closing in on a transfer to Leverkusen. Yet at the same time, it's easy to see how a 25-year-old footballer, entering the prime years of his career, cannot be satisfied playing as little as Rode has.

To his good fortune, Rode is in a very positive situation. He's apparently wanted by other clubs, and his performance on Wednesday will only raise his stock at Bayern. If it isn't enough for him to play more, it will still make potential suitors sweeten their offers to the player and his club. And given that Rode was signed on a free transfer, any sale price would prove that he was a lucrative signing indeed.

After some time in the dark, Rode may well have his future back in his hands. With a great attitude and devout work ethic, he's deserved it.

@Mr_Bundesliga