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
Hoffenheim went through a tumultuous week as new manager Huub Stevens had to step down due to a heart condition and were forced to promote 28-year-old Julian Nagelsmann to the role of head coach – the youngest in Bundesliga history. His first step to saving Hoffenheim from relegation was a trip to Bremen which they escaped with a 1-1 draw. Oliver Baumann was in sensational form to stop the hosts as he made nine save throughout the game. Even after going a man down, Baumann ensured that the goals were safe.
Gaetan Bussman – Left-back – FSV Mainz
Mainz have continued their outstanding recent form by adding another claiming a 2-1 victory over Schalke. Bussman was a standout performer in the win, providing the important opening goal. The 25-year-old accurately drilled the ball from a deflected corner to give Mainz the advantage in the opening half. Aside from his goal, Bussman also had to keep young star Leroy Sane quiet, which he did excellently with a 90% tackle success rate.
Dominique Heintz – Central-defence – FC Cologne
FC Cologne were looking to avenge their reverse fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt where they were humiliated to the tune of a 6-2 scoreline. It looked as though Alex Meier had set Frankfurt on course for another victory with a goal in the first-half but Cologne mounted a rousing comeback to win 3-1. A key figure for Cologne’s victory was their defender Dominique Heintz, who withstood early Frankfurt pressure with four tackles and three aerial interceptions. The 22-year-old set Cologne on the path for victory in the second-half when he completed the comeback by nodding home from a free kick.
Stefan Bell – Central-defence – FSV Mainz
Mainz had to wrestle with Schalke’s young and exciting strike force in their 2-1 home win. Defender Stefan Bell put on a solid display in the back line to keep out the Royal Blue attacks. The 24-year-old won 90% of his tackles and made a goal saving clearance off the line throughout the game. Bell was powerless to stop Schalke’s equaliser but he held firm to see out the win.
Lukasz Piszczek – Right-back – Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund secured a routine 1-0 win over strugglers Hannover courtesy of a well-rounded performance from the team including Lukasz Piszczek. The Polish right-back linked up with Ilkay Gundogan and Henrikh Mkhitaryan to ensure Dortmund dominated the match, even though they stuttered in front of goal. The 30-year-old showed why he has displaced breakout star Matthias Ginter on the team sheet with an 86% pass completion rate and a willingness to move forward.
POPULAR ARTICLES
Outside90 is pleased to become the official partner of AUSFIFA.com
How Chelsea fans reacted after their 2-1 loss against PSG
Copa90’s depiction of who turned Aston Villa into a laughing stock [WATCH]
Douglas Costa – Left-wing – Bayern Munich
Bayern recorded a 3-1 win over Augsburg in a Bavarian derby. Douglas Costa was at his best as he tore up Augsburg’s defence with frightening ease. The speedy Brazilian was a threat in every minute up until his substitution in the 83rd minute. The 25-year-old assisted Thomas Muller’s goal and Bayern’s third of the night to put the game to bed. It was an outstanding display from one of Europe’s finest wingers.
Yannick Gerhardt – Central-midfield – FC Cologne
Gerhardt was one of Cologne’s star performers in their come-from-behind win against Frankfurt. The 21-year-old registered a goal and an assist to help his side to three points. Gerhardt’s goal equalised for his side and he assisted the goal that put them ahead, the German showed his importance to this Cologne side in terms of attack. On top of this, he also won 80% of his aerial duels, showing that he is a force to be reckoned with defensively as well.
Geoffrey Serey Die – Central-midfield – VfB Stuttgart
Hertha Berlin’s meteoric rise to the Champions League spots on the table was halted by Stuttgart with a 2-0 scoreline. Geoffrey Serey Die had an outstanding night in the centre of the midfield, controlling the game and scoring the opening goal. The 31-year-old scored his first Bundesliga goal with a creative outside-of-the-boot shot the curled outwards and nestled into the bottom corner. Serey Die also maintained a passing accuracy of 93%, keeping Hertha’s powerhouse midfield unusually quiet.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan – Right-wing – Borussia Dortmund
With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out with an injury, Dortmund had to look elsewhere for goals. For the most part of their 1-0 win against Hannover, the Black and Yellows were let down by poor finishing in the absence of the usually clinical Aubameyang. Henrikh Mkhitaryan stepped up and scored a magnificent strike to settle the affair. The Armenian took advantage of some relaxed defending from the visitors to approach the penalty area and curl an extremely accurate shot into the bottom corner.
Robert Lewandowski – Striker – Bayern Munich
Robert Lewandowski took full advantage of Aubameyang’s day off by bagging a brace against Augsburg to put himself ahead on the Bundesliga top scorers list with 21 goals this season. The Polish front-man scored a brilliant opening goal in a first-half devoid of chances for Bayern and added his second in the second half with a composed finish. The 27-year-old is chasing Gerd Muller’s record of 40 goals in a single season and, at this rate, he might be able to break the age-old Bundesliga record.
Julian Brandt – Striker – Bayer Leverkusen
Julian Brandt usually plays as a winger but was deployed by Roger Schmidt as a striker, a decision that paid off in Leverkusen’s 2-1 win away at Darmstadt. Darmstadt this season have played the role of underdogs to perfection, fighting hard and managing to snatch points from teams like Dortmund and Leverkusen earlier in the season. This time around Leverkusen were not so lacklustre as they were made to work for their win. Brandt is only 19 years old but he made an incredible impact on the game as he scored a scrappy, but dramatic winner in the final 15 minutes of the game. This win sees Leverkusen lift themselves to third, a welcome sight after a disappointing first-half of the season.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
