Outside90’s Ari Papas selects the standout performers from the latest round of Bundesliga action for our Team of the Week.
Oliver Baumann – Goalkeeper – Hoffenheim
The youngest coach in the Bundesliga, Julian Nagelsmann, collected the largest scalp of his short managerial career with a heroic 1-0 win over VfL Wolfsburg. Hamburg scored in the opening minutes of the game and many expected Wolfsburg’s star studded line up to make a come-back, however, all attempts were thwarted by Oliver Baumann who was in incredible form to make nine exceptional saves. The Wolves’ front three had a combine nine shots on goal that were all either off-target or saved by Baumann, as the German worked harder than ever to keep a clean sheet. A penalty miss by Kevin Volland was not enough to spark the opposition into scoring and Hoffenheim rose closer to safety from relegation with a fantastic win.
Markus Feulner – Right-back – FC Augsburg
Augsburg and Darmstadt both remain three points from the relegation zone after a 2-2 draw following a spirited travelling performance. The hosts were well in control of the game, heading into the break two goals to the good. The Darmstadt may have strolled to a win if it were not for Markus Feulner’s beautiful strike midway through the second-half to bring his team back to life. His long-range effort was unstoppable and Augsburg rallied themselves until they scored a dramatic last minute equalizer.
Mergim Mavraj – Central-defence – FC Cologne
FC Cologne were the latest to punish a poor Hannover side as they ran out 2-0 winners on the day. Despite the home team’s woes in front of goal, the relegation candidates registered more shots on target than their opponent and posed a threat at times. Cologne’s excellent defensive work earned a collective clean sheet, especially from Mergim Mavraj. The 29-year-old won all of his defensive duels as he kept his side safely away from harm against Hannover.
Niklas Sule – Central-defence – Hoffenheim
Hoffenheim had to work together as a unit to defeat VfL Wolfsburg 1-0. Despite Baumann’s man of the match performance, it was Niklas Sule’s defensive work that also helped keep the hosts in the game. The young German won all of his tackles as he kept out Wolfsburg’s marauding front three. Hoffenheim’s winner came in only the third minute, so it was an immense defensive effort from Sule to keep his side defensively sound while being under pressure for almost the entire game.
- Emiliano Insúa – Left-back – VfB Stuttgart
Insua was one of Stuttgart’s stand-out performers in a thrilling 3-3 draw with FC Ingolstadt. In a hectic game that flowed back and forth, it was Insua who brought Stuttgart back five minutes after they had gone a goal down. The 27-year-old assisted an equaliser to make it 1-1 before 10 minutes, sparking an incredible contest that ended as a thrilling stalemate.
Kingsley Coman – Right-wing – Bayern Munich
Bayern returned to winning ways with a bang by slamming Werder Bremen 5-0 at the Allianz Arena. Kingsley Coman put in one of his most impressive performances yet, registering three assists and seven successful dribbles throughout the game. The 19-year-old is one of Europe’s most outstanding youngsters and has made a case to be seriously considered for France’s Euro 2016 squad. Despite being unwanted at Paris Saint-Germain and sold by Juventus, the Frenchman has found a new lease of life under Pep Guardiola at Bayern. The winger continuously tore apart Bremen and set up his teammates enough times to have the away side dead and buried before halftime.
Mahmoud Dahoud – Central-midfield – Borussia Monchengladbach
Monchengladbach leapfrogged Schalke into fourth place on the table with a clinical 3-0 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt. While Andre Schubert has his team ran extremely well as a collective, it was Mahmoud Dahoud who was pulling the strings in their big win. The 20-year-old had a passing success rate of 87% and scored a 79th minute goal to seal victory.
Thiago Alcantara – Central-midfield – Bayern Munich
The Spaniard does not score often, but he burst into brilliant form as he scored a wonderful brace against Werder Bremen in Bayern’s 5-0 win. As is usual in a Guardiola managed side, the 24-year-old maintained a brilliant passing rhythm with the rest of the team. The Spaniard tucked away both Bayern’s first and last of the game and may have had a hat-trick, but was denied by the post. Thiago was perfect against Bremen, a welcome sign before the tricky tie with Juventus in the Champions League this week.
Mathew Leckie – Left-wing – FC Ingolstadt
Mathew Leckie has been ever-present for Ingolstadt this season, scoring his second ever Bundesliga goal against Stuttgart in a 3-3 draw. The Socceroo was man of the match as his marauding ventures down the left-wing resulted in Ingolstadt’s second goal of the night. Leckie also took on the Stuttgart defenders with class as his dribbling skills bamboozled their defenders. The 25-year-old had a brilliant night as he showed to Germany what he is capable of, even though his side could not come up with a win.
Thomas Muller – Striker – Bayern Munich
It would not be a goal-fest at the Allianz Arena if Thomas Muller did not have a say in the matter. The World Cup winner scored a classic brace that put Bremen far out of reach. The German seems to find space in the most impossible places as he doubled Bayern’s lead with a brilliantly devised volley. The goal poacher then snapped up another as Franck Ribery was denied a spectacular goal, but Muller was there to follow-up. The Bayern youth product was outstanding against Bremen and he looks set to continue his rise in form for the remainder of the season.
Andrej Kramaric – Striker – Hoffenheim
Everyone was involved in Hoffenheim’s win over Wolfsburg, perhaps most important among the team members was Andrej Kramaric who scored the all-important winner in the third minute of the game. The 24-year-old took the Wolves completely by surprise, as he wiggled through their defence and curled home a brilliant goal before anyone had broken a sweat. Kramaric threatened throughout the rest of the game, but his individual effort to put his side ahead was key to their fantastic victory.
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