Four weeks into the Bundesliga season and Bayern Munich have firmly recovered from their opening day blip. A convincing win at Kaiserslautern saw Jupp Heynckes’ side move ominously to the top of the table and earned three of their players a place in the WhoScored Bundesliga XI, while Schalke’s defeat of MGladbach also saw them move to nine points with a third straight win. Elsewhere, there were some strong individual displays across Germany’s top-flight, with Hannover 96 the only unbeaten side left as we draw a line under August. Here’s a look at last week’s stand-out performers as we review the Bundesliga All Star XI for week 4.
Defence
Lukas Schmitz, Werder Bremen. WhoScored rating 8.33
The left-back was a key performer in his side’s 2-1 win at Hoffenheim. The victory means Bremen are on nine points and level with the likes of Bayern and Schalke and Schmitz put in a brilliant defensive shift to ensure his side kept up their early season form, making an incredible 7 tackles, 5 interceptions and 4 clearances.
In possession, he was just as impressive- Schmitz had 82 touches, the second most of any player, and made 44 passes with an 89% accuracy. He also played 8 long balls from the back and made 2 successful dribbles and 2 crosses from the left flank and with 1 key pass, picked up an assist in the victory. His all-round display helped Schmitz pick up a WhoScored.com match rating of 8.33.
Zdenek Pospech, Mainz 05. WhoScored rating 7.87
Pospech’s defensive contribution was crucial to his side’s 1-1 draw at Hanover 96. Pospech made 7 tackles- the other three members of Mainz’s back-four made 8 tackles between them. He also made 5 interceptions –join-top for his side- as well as 10 clearances and 2 blocked shots; again, this was more than any team mate. The right-back also won 100% of his aerial duels in a defiant performance at the back.
In possession, he had 84 touches, the second-highest of any player on the visiting side and made more passes (37) than any Mainz player, with a 73% accuracy. Pospech also played 5 long balls, with 4 successful, as he picked up a rating of 7.87 from WhoScored.com
Midfield
Jefferson Farfan, Schalke 04. WhoScored rating 8.81
Playing in right midfield in Schalke’s 4-1-2-1-2 formation, Farfan was the game’s chief creator. He made 6 key passes in the 1-0 win over MGladbach, making chance after chance for his team mates, and was unfortunate not to pick up an assist.
His trickery on the ball saw him make 3 successful dribbles and play 13 crosses from out wide, with 8 of those successful. Farfan played 36 passes with an 89% accuracy and had just the 1 shot at goal. He played his part defensively, too, with 1 tackle and 3 interceptions, on his way to a WhoScored.com rating of 8.81.
Thomas Muller, Bayern Munich. WhoScored rating 8.56
Muller has had a battle on his hands to cement a first-team place, with Toni Kroos proving an able rival for the slot behind Mario Gomez in Bayern’s 4-2-3-1. Last Saturday at Kaiserslautern, however, his display showed just why he’s currently the man in the driving seat.
Muller made 4 key passes, joint-top with Franck Ribery, but Muller managed his tally from a total of 31 passes- Ribery took 76 to do so. He had an 81% pass accuracy and made 1 cross, picking up 1 assist in the win that took his side to the Bundesliga summit, and also had 2 successful dribbles and 1 shot on target on his way to a WhoScored.com rating of 8.56.
Attack
Raul, Schalke 04. WhoScord.com rating 9.02
The Spaniard grabbed the only goal of the game against MGladbach just after the hour mark to make it three straight wins for Ralf Rangnick’s side. While strike partner Jan Klaas Huntelaar struggled throughout and managed just 1 shot at goal, Raul had 6 goal attempts, with 3 of those on target and 1 finding the net.
Raul played a major part in the game right through the 90 minutes- he had 70 touches, making 49 passes (with an 86% accuracy), of which 4 were key passes. He also helped out defensively, with 2 tackles and 1 interception and was awarded a WhoScored.com rating of 9.02 for his endeavours.
Mario Gomez, Bayern Munich. WhoScored rating 9.78
The centre forward had just 33 touches in Bayern’s win at Kaiserslautern on Saturday afternoon but was ruthless when in possession. Gomez had 7 of his side’s 14 shots and demonstrated a brilliant shooting accuracy- all 7 of his efforts were on target. Despite missing a penalty, Gomez was not to be deterred, scoring all of the visitors’ goals in the 3-0 win.
He also had an 88% pass accuracy, made 1 key pass and in terms of defensive work, managed 1 tackle and 2 interceptions on his way to a WhoScored.com rating of 9.78.
