Outside90’s Ari Papas selects the best performers from the first round of German Bundesliga action in our team of the week.
Koen Casteels – VfL Wolfsburg
With Wolfsburg captain and first choice goalkeeper Diego Benaglio out due to injury, Casteels stepped between the sticks. The Belgian, against expectations, put in an exceptional performance. At almost two metres tall, Casteels calmly collected crosses high and low throughout the game, proving to be a nuisance in the side of a plucky Eintracht Frankfurt. Stefan Reinartz blasted any hopes of a clean sheet away with a bullet header, but Casteels proved his worth with five key saves throughout the match.
Philipp Lahm – Bayern Munich
Philipp Lahm’s synergy with Arjen Robben goes back as long as anyone can remember. Their pairing on the left-wing is one of the most prolific partnerships in German football, but a relatively quiet night from Robben saw Lahm steal the show. The World Cup-winning captain showed attacking flair and intensity despite his 31 years. His passing accuracy of 89% helped him dismantle the defence of Hamburg SV with frightening ease and led Bayern to a 5-0 victory.
Sokratis Papastothopoulos – Borussia Dortmund
The competition for the centre-back position at Dortmund is fierce, with Nevan Subotic, Mats Hummels and Sokratis all fighting for a spot. Sokratis made the most of Subotic’s absence by putting in a fine defensive performance. The Greek international was always lurking in the defensive third, picking up stray balls and making vital tackles. Sokratis won over 90% of all duels and challenges against Borussia Monchengladbach in a 4-0 win.
Medhi Benatia – Bayern Munich
Benatia was one of the quiet achievers of Bayern’s romp against Hamburg. It was an embarrassing score for the visitors, but the dinosaur of German football had quite a good first half. Their frantic pressing occasionally found gaps in Bayern’s midfield, forcing Xabi Alonso and Jerome Boateng into cynical challenges that earned them yellow cards. Benatia, however, was much more convincing in Die Roten’s back line. The Moroccan won 15 duels for Bayern, saving them from potential embarrassment from a Hamburg counter-attack. Benatia topped off an impressive night with a headed goal from an Alonso free kick.
Ricardo Rodriguez – Vfl Wolfsburg
The Swiss left-back started the Bundesliga season in style. In Wolfsburg’s 2-1 home win against Frankfurt, he whipped six crosses into the box and had a 100% dribble success rate. The Wolves laboured to a 2-1 victory due to some dour performances from attacking players, but Rodriguez was a constant threat offensively and defensively.
Johannes Geis – FC Schalke
Geis is a player to keep an eye on for the future. Chased by Bayern and Dortmund, he settled on FC Schalke where he made a promising debut against Werder Bremen in a 3-0 win. Despite being only 21 years old, Geis commanded Schalke’s midfield with his first competitive 90 minutes for the club. The German U21 international showed great attacking intent as well, with 70% of his forward passes finding their targets. Whether it is defensive duties or attacking interplay, Geis seems to fit wherever he is needed.
Julian Weigl – Borussia Dortmund
The 19-year-old rising talent found himself in BVB’s starting XI ahead of Bundesliga veteran Gonzalo Castro. It is a sign of the immense faith that Thomas Tuchel has in the young German and Weigl helped justify Tuchel’s decision with a great performance against Monchengladbach. Weigl maintained a superb 94% passing accuracy in forward and backward passes. He did not neglect his defensive duties either and one of his interceptions led to a Dortmund goal.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan – Borussia Dortmund
BVB’s number 10 has already forgotten about his underwhelming 2014-15 season with a flying start at the expense of Monchengladbach. Mkhitaryan was on the team sheet as a right-winger but played almost everywhere in the front third and was involved in every attack. With a passing accuracy of 86% and two goals, the Armenian was simply sensational. Whether he is behind the striker or on either wing, he had to be included in the round one team of the week.
Douglas Costa – Bayern Munich
The second most expensive signing of the 2015-16 Bundesliga (€30 million) had a sublime first Bundesliga game in a Bayern jersey. The Brazilian international was determined to stamp his authority on the right-wing position while Franck Ribery is out with injury and he did so with class. Costa caused constant issues down the wing, terrorising Hamburg’s defence, and was rewarded for his efforts with a cheeky assist and a sensational goal.
Marcel Heller – SV Darmstadt
Heller’s two scintillating solo goals helped newly-promoted Darmstadt to a point against Hannover 96. His passing accuracy of 42% leaves a lot to be desired for an attacking midfielder, however, he boasted a dribble success rate of over 90%. The 29-year-old’s first goal was a lovely counter-attack, taking the ball from almost halfway and cutting through Hannover’s defence with ease. His dogged pressuring paid off with a one-on-one opportunity against the Hannover goalkeeper that he did not waste.
Lukas Hinterseer – FC Ingolstadt
Hinteseer earns his spot on the team of the week by creating Bundesliga history. His touch and curl shot from the side of the six-yard box was Ingolstadt’s first Bundesliga goal and led to their first Bundesliga win. Die Schanzer were immensely efficient in front of goal against FSV Mainz. Despite having 43% possession at the Coface Arena, they out-shot the hosts with 14 efforts on goal compared to Mainz’s five. The Austrian striker played a significant role in this efficient attacking front, which earned him a historic goal.
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