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With Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund enjoying contrasting wins and Leverkusen keeping up the pace, the weekend was certainly action packed. With each game averaging almost four goals, it was certainly a weekend that was dominated by the attackers, so let us look at who made it into the Bundesliga XI this week.
GK: M Neuer (Bayern Munich)
The 27-year-old German keeper kept his third straight clean sheet in the league, following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat of Wolfsburg. Although Muller will rightly claim all the plaudits, Neuer was arguably the joint best player on the pitch. With Guardiola just starting his reign, Neuer has certainly provided him with a solid base on which to build on. With five clean sheets in just seven games, it should come as no surprise to anyone if he walks away with the most clean sheets at the end of the season.
RB: Kevin Großkreutz (Borussia Dortmund)
Although Lewandowski and Reus both scored a brace, one of the main architects of Dortmund’s comfortable 5-0 victory was their right back Großkreutz. The right back was a constant attacking threat, throughout the game and touched the ball over a 100 times. Most of Dortmund’s attack started down the right side and Großkreutz was the man who started it all. And although he didn’t have an assist or a goal to his name, his performance was certainly something that would have pleased his manager to no end.
CB: M Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
M Hummels again showed just why he is one half of arguably one of Germany’s, if not Europe’s best center half pairing. In the game against Freiburg, the German international had the most touches of any player on the pitch and laid the platform for plenty of attacks. Not only was he good at the back, with his keen positioning sense, he made several telling passes, which certainly bodes well for Dortmund as they look to build from the back.
CB: Daniel Schwaab (Stuttgart)
Schwaab was one half of an amazing central defense partnership over the weekend and the 25-year-old German had one of his best games of the season yet. Whilst his partner in crime was equally good, what put him a step above him, was his aerial ability. To say that the 25-year-old won almost everything in the air wouldn’t have been an exaggeration. And although he will face stiffer tests than the ones posed by Braunschweig, if he continues his good form, he might just find himself in the national side before too long.
LB: M Jansen (Hamburg)
M Jansen’s crosses were a major source of attack for Hamburg in the game against Eintracht Frankfurt. The left back’s foray forward has been well documented and it was he scored the goal late in the game that clinched his side an invaluable point. Although Jansen was particularly impressive going forward, he also made 6 tackles, the most of any player on the pitch. It was his all-round performance that led to him being voted the man of the match.
CM: M Russ (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Marco Russ is quickly turning into his side’s main man and it was his goal early in the second half that gave his side the lead, which they eventually let slip. But, the German was the star of the show yet again, as he martialed the midfield with his sharp tackling and his slick short passing. With two goals to his name already, Russ will be hoping to get a few more as the season wears and help his side stay in the Bundesliga for another year at least.
CM: A Hlousek (Nurnberg)
In a game that saw plenty of goals, it was A Hlousek’s goal in the 70th minute that secured a 3-3 draw for Nurnberg, against Werder Bremen. Apart from his goal, he also managed to provide an assist and made several key passes and interceptions and was an effective threat on both sides of the pitch. Whilst the game was no doubt dominated by E Elia’s amazing performance, the Czech international ensured that it was Nurnberg who had the last laugh.
RAM: I Traoré (Stuttgart)
Against Braunschweig, I Traoré put in a performance and a half, as he helped his side cruise to a comfortable 4-0 victory. The 25-year-old from Guinea was the man of the match as he finished the game with a goal and an assist to his name. Not only that, he also had the most shots, tackles and dribbles of any Stuttgart player on the park. All of this, from an attacking midfielder’s role where prime job was to attack, and attack he did, and a whole lot more as well.
CAM: M Reus (Borussia Dortmund)
With two goals from just three shots on goal, M Reus was deadly effective in front of goal, against Freiburg. And although he played for just over an hour, he was still, arguably the best player of the game, finishing with two goals, one from the penalty spot and an assist to his name. The German international’s performances so far have been nothing short of exemplary and if he keeps this up, Dortmund might not even notice that Gotze is gone.
LAM: E Elia (Werder Bremen)
E Elia came as close to perfection as one could come, in the game against Nurnberg. Elia gave Werder Bremen the lead twice, but one which they eventually failed to hold onto. The Dutch attacker successfully completed seven dribbles and also did his fair share of defensive duties, as he ended up making as many tackles as his center half. Elia’s performance was one that had every aspect of his game, played to perfection and was without a doubt, the player of this week in Germany.
CF: R Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund)
Lewandowski’s two goals against Freiburg propelled him to the top of the scoring charts with six goals, alongside three others. And although, the Polish forward had fewer touches than everybody bar the goalkeeper and the two subs who came in after the hour mark, he still made the most telling contribution of all the players, with his two well taken goals, which pushed his side to the top of the table, ahead of Bayern Munich on goal difference.
