Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola sang the praises of emergency centre-back Joshua Kimmich after his side extended their unbeaten start to 2016 with a 0-0 draw at Bayer Leverkusen.
Kimmich, 20, was forced to play his second game in a row at the heart of the Bayern defence due to an injury crisis which has struck the Bavarian club.
Jerome Boateng, Javi Martinez, Medhi Benatia and new signing Serdar Tasci were all unavailable for Saturday's trip, and Guardiola said he was glad to have the versatile midfielder as an alternative.
"Kimmich played a fantastic game as a central defender -- just look at who he was up against," Guardiola told Sky Sport Deutschland.
"Chicharito [Javier Hernandez] is in great form and [Stefan] Kiessling is a great threat in the air, but neither had a chance.
"He combined really well with Holger Badstuber, who let's not forget has been out injured for ages, so I have to pay a huge compliment to Joshua."
Indeed, both defences emerged triumphant in the goalless draw with Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah excelling under the eyes of Germany's assistant coach Thomas Schneider.
The 19-year-old is reportedly a candidate to take Boateng's place in the Germany squad for Euro 2016, should the Bayern stopper fail to recover in time, but he shrugged off Schneider's presence in the BayArena.
"I'm just focusing on my games for Bayer," he said. "We've got a big cup tie in midweek, big games in the Bundesliga and then the Europa League to come, and those are my only priorities."
Tah was otherwise satisfied with his and Leverkusen's performance against a side who had dropped just five points in the league all season, up to Saturday.
"I think when [Thomas] Muller came on, they improved, but we had chances too and I think a draw is fair," he said.
"Whoever had a bit more luck could have got a goal, but we can live with this. It was a good game from us and a draw against Bayern is a good result."