1. Min-jae Kim (Bayern Munich)
Ever since Bayern’s defeat to Barcelona within the Champions League, Vincent Kompany’s staff have fully modified up their defensive enjoying fashion – and this variation up has labored wonders! Bayern at the moment are on a 7-game-streak of not conceding a single objective.
The file for the highest 5 leagues at the moment stands at 9 video games in a row (set by Juventus) – and Bayern might equal that file IF they handle to get previous their two largest rivals in Germany: Dortmund on matchday 12 of the Bundesliga and Leverkusen within the DFB-Pokal spherical of 16.
One participant who proved to be the important thing to Bayern’s improved defensive stability is Min-jae Kim. The South Korean worldwide has lastly been capable of enhance his kind and consistency below the steering of former star centre again Vincent Kompany. On matchday 5 of the Champions League Kim even helped out in assault, scoring the winner for Bayern towards Paris Saint-Germain!
Kim, who not too long ago praised his centre again accomplice Dayot Upamecano with the phrases “I like him and love enjoying with him”, appears to have lastly grown into the nickname he has been given all through his profession: “Monster”. Let’s examine if he is usually a monster and nightmare for Dortmund’s assault in a brand new version of “der Klassiker” this weekend.
2. Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund)
It appears solely proper to focus on a participant from either side in Germany’s most fun match-up – and once more it is a defender. Ramy Bensebaini has managed to show round his profession at Borussia Dortmund. A switch candidate in the summertime, Bensebaini has confirmed himself within the first staff and is now one of many guranteed beginning gamers week in week out.
Not solely has he improved Dortmund’s protection massively, he has additionally had an excellent influence on their assault: Bensebaini was straight concerned in 3 of the final 7 objectives of the BVB, scoring as soon as towards Dinamo Zagreb within the Champions League and helping twice on matchday 11 of the Bundesliga towards Freiburg.
Though gamers like Serhou Guirassy and Jamie Gittens are the extra normal names on Dortmund’s scoreboards, it is best to definetly keep watch over Ramy Bensebaini; not solely will his duels towards Olise/Sané/Gnabry be fascinating to look at, he may be the important thing towards Bayern’s most rotated place, rightback.
3. Justin Diehl (VfB Stuttgart)
We now have discovered the primary attacker for this record – 20 yr outdated Justin Diehl. The extremely praised former 1. FC Köln participant may be on the sting of a breakthrough at Stuttgart. Whereas it was tough to get minutes in Sebastian Hoeneß’ facet, Diehl has been attempting to get probably the most out of them.
On matchday 11 of the Bundesliga, Diehl got here on for a brilliantly enjoying Chris Führich within the 77th minute – and scored a minute later. It was his third recreation for Stuttgart and contemplating Stuttgart’s up-and-down kind in the previous couple of weeks and video games (1 win, 1 draw, 3 losses in November), Hoeneß would possibly give Diehl extra possibilities within the upcoming challenges.
Stuttgart are enjoying Werder Bremen this weekend, a staff which additionally struggles with consistency (1 win, 2 losses in November). Stuttgart, which misplaced 1-5 towards Purple Star Belgrade in the course of the week within the Chamions League, will definetly rotate their staff – which might result in a beginning spot for Diehl. Ought to he get his subsequent minutes within the Bundesliga, he’ll definetly make them rely.
4. Nadiem Amiri (Mainz 05)
Most Bundesliga followers would anticipate to see Jonathan Burkardt’s title on this record, if a Mainz participant is ready to make it – however not this week. Whereas Burkardt has undoubtedly had an excellent begin into the season (7 objectives in 11 video games), it’s Nadiem Amiri who was capable of steal the present on most occaisons.
Amiri, who has not too long ago been linked with a switch to Premier League tremendous staff Aston Villa (learn extra in one other article of ours), has offered man of the match performances in back-to-back video games for Mainz, concluding in 6 factors and a objectives tally of 6-1. Mainz have crushed Dortmund and Kiel – and Amiri was the perfect participant on the pitch.
His time in Mainz has been crammed with nice perfomances and unimaginable moments thus far. Amiri was capable of present greater than glimpses of his finest kind at Hoffenheim – who’re his very subsequent opponent on matchday 12. Whereas Mainz have not been crushed in November thus far (and solely conceded 1 objective in 3 video games), Hoffenheim discover themselves in a turbulent part of their season.
1 win, 2 attracts, 2 losses and a supervisor change are the outcomes of Hoffenheim’s november actions. Whereas they’ve crushed favorite Leipzig final week after 3 comebacks inside the sport itself, they appear to be too shaky defensively for a compact and assured Mainz staff. Amiri has already offered an help in his final (and solely) match for Mainz towards Hoffenheim final season – given his present kind it’s not unlikely {that a} objective would possibly observe this Sunday.
5. Konstantinos Koulierakis (VfL Wolfsburg)
Ending up this week’s record is one other defender – very uncommon for a lot of these lists! Koulierakis has tailored splendidly to the Bundesliga since his switch from PAOK to Wolfsburg in the summertime. The Greek worldwide has crammed the hole of Micky van de Ven, who left in the summertime of 2023, fairly good and has earned comparisons to him by doing so.
Koulierakis has performed in 9 video games for Wolfsburg and is now an integral a part of Ralph Hasenhüttl’s beginning eleven. It is also due to him that Wolfsburg are at the moment on an unbeaten run of 5 video games, together with opponents like Dortmund and Union Berlin.
Whereas his teammate Mohamed El Amine Amoura will get (deservedly) a lot reward for Wolfsburg’s rise in kind, it is his defensive work that ought to get extra credit score. Koulierakis builds a superb partnership with Denis Vavro within the again: Vavro shines with good construct up play and an organized urgent system, Koulierakis is extra of a watch catcher attributable to his explosiveness and consistency in air duels. These two defendes complement one another very effectively.
Wolfsburg are enjoying a knocked RB Leipzig facet – usually an “straightforward” recreation for Rose’s facet. This time, nonetheless, do not be shocked if an organised Wolfsburg facet, with an in kind protection and environment friendly assault, can annoy the favorite – and hold their unbeaten streak going. Let’s not neglect that Wolfsburg have received 2 of their final 3 match-ups…