Goal picks out the star performers from across the first half of the 2013-14 campaign, which saw the Bavarians streak clear in the title race
There will always be drama, excitement and unpredictability from every corner of the Bundesliga and this campaign has been no different, with Borussia Dortmund and Schalke floundering and Bayern Munich running away with the title. And the Bavarians dominate Goal‘s best XI of the season so far.
In goal, we have Bayer Leverkusen’s Bernd Leno. He may have disappointed in the Champions League but the youngster has been in fantastic form at home, providing the foundation for his side’s title tilt.
The defence is comprised of two players from Dortmund and two from Bayern. Kevin Grosskreutz has reinvented himself as a right-back this term, and has even been selected ahead of Lukasz Piszczek in many matches since the Pole’s return from injury, while Sokratis Papastathopoulos has been a rock for Jurgen Klopp’s side in the absence of injured duo Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic.
The Westfalenstadion duo are joined in the back four by Jerome Boateng, who has established himself as first-choice centre-back for both club and country with an excellent run of form, and David Alaba, who continues to excel despite not being played in his preferred midfield role.
One man who has thrived in the centre of the park is Philipp Lahm. Thrown into an unfamiliar role due to a spate of injuries, the full-back has been a revelation in his new position and sits alongside yet another Bayern star in Toni Kroos, who has developed into a key player once more, after being sidelined for the tail end of last season.
Two more Bavarian stars, Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, start on the wings, having been there to lift Bayern when they were not at their fluid best at the start of the season – with the former getting a Ballon d’Or nomination thanks to his exploits with the treble winners and his native France. They are joined in a three-pronged attacking midfield by Sidney Sam, who is staking a real claim for a World Cup spot with remarkably consistent performances for Leverkusen,
Up front is Adrian Ramos, who tops the Bundesliga goalscoring charts courtesy of some excellent performances for the season’s surprise package, Hertha Berlin. The prolific Colombian beats Robert Lewandowski to the No.9 spot.