Outside90’s Ari Papas selects the best performers from the latest round of Bundesliga action for our matchday nine team of the week.
Ron-Robert Zieler (Goalkeeper) – Hannover 96
Hannover started their match-up against FC Cologne as clear underdogs but somehow walked away with a 1-0 victory. Cologne were frustrated constantly by Zieler, who put in a man of the match performance to make five key saves and four aerial catches to rescue a rare clean sheet for the Bundesliga strugglers.
Markus Stuttner (Left-back) – FC Ingolstadt
Despite a nervy 1-0 loss to Stuttgart, Stuttner can be proud of an excellent individual performance. The scoreline would have looked better had Mathew Leckie scored his penalty, but Stuttner kept his individual area safe with 11 key tackles and duels won throughout the match.
Mats Hummels (Centre-back) – Borussia Dortmund
The Dortmund captain put his woeful performance in Munich behind him by keeping BVB steady at the back against a dangerous Mainz. Thomas Tuchel’s return to his old club was a tense affair, with the home team threatening for most of the match. Hummels’ distribution was still rusty but his tackling and aerial ability was outstanding, making over 10 interceptions in the game.
Benedikt Hoewedes (Centre-back) – FC Schalke
Schalke’s captain made a full recovery from his injury issues in a dramatic 2-1 win over Hertha Berlin. The German opened the scoring for the Royal Blues and kept the side safe in defence with a number of crucial tackles. The Veltins Arena was shocked after Hertha went a man down to a red card and then equalised with 10 minutes remaining, but Hoewedes kept everything together until Max Meyer scored a thrilling late winner.
Florian Klein (Right-back) – VfB Stuttgart
Klein made a game winning impact in Stuttgart’s 1-0 win over Ingolstadt. It was going to take something special to break down a tough visiting side but an accurate shot from outside the box was a fantastic way to put Stuttgart ahead. The goal, however, was given to Daniel Didavi, who got the slightest of touches on the ball to marginally change its course and leave the goalkeeper stranded.
Thiago Alcantara (Left wing) – Bayern Munich
Normally a midfielder, Thiago stepped into the role of left-winger to allow Douglas Costa a rest. The Spaniard was outstanding and provided a classy and precise assist for Thomas Muller’s decisive goal in a tepid affair with Werder Bremen. Thiago excelled at maintaining possession and is yet another example of Bayern’s endless squad depth.
Mahmoud Dahoud (Central-midfield) – Borussia Monchengladbach
Dahoud was efficient in possession and dominated proceedings for new coach Andre Schubert, as Monchengladbach continued their dramatic return to form with a stunning 5-1 win away at Frankfurt. His long range effort put Gladbach ahead in the second half, taking a wicked deflection to take the ball into the net before assisting the Foals’ third goal.
Peter Niemeyer (Central-midfield) – SV Darmstadt
Darmstadt continues to defy the odds with a 2-0 victory away from home at Augsburg. Niemeyer shutdown the midfield, making crucial tackles and winning duels to ensure Darmstadt’s clean sheet. The 31-year-old extended visitors’ lead with a booming shot from just outside the six-yard-box which put his team in pole position to take the three points.
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Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Right-wing) – Borussia Dortmund
Mkhitaryan was another Dortmund player looking to improve on a disappointing performance last time out and did so with great style. A 2-0 win against Mainz was an arm wrestle with neither side asserting authority in the midfield, but it was BVB’s individual talents that saw them take narrow advantages. Mkhitaryan was busy on the wings, using his pace and strength to cause issues for Mainz’s defence. The Armenian made a crucial interception that led to the opening goal and put the result beyond doubt with a composed finish in the final minutes of the game.
Max Kruse (Central-midfield) – VfL Wolfsburg
Kruse was one of the star performers of the round, helping Wolfsburg to a hard fought 4-2 victory against Hoffenheim with a brilliant hat-trick. The Wolves looked to be coasting to a win when they went 2-0 up but the travelling side fought back to 2-2. A deserved winner came through Max Kruse, who found the net twice in the second-half to get a first hat-trick for his new club.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Striker) – Borussia Dortmund
Aubameyang had a bittersweet night away at Mainz, his recording-breaking goal streak came to an end but his contribution to the team did not. The Gabon internatonal was involved in both of Dortmund’s goals, assisting Marco Reus for the first and making a crucial interception which lead to Mkhitaryan for the second. The 26-year-old was in a perfect position to score for both goals, but opted for the easiest option by playing in his teammates. Reus particularly will be glad at Aubameyang’s charitable assists, as it helped him end a small goal-drought.
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