The 10 Most Impressive Bundesliga Players Heading into the International Week
Domestic football across Europe takes a back seat this week with the return of international obligations for players across the continent's top divisions.
Yet, as the Bundesliga's top talent flies off across the world for competitive qualifying matches and glorified friendlies alike, fans and club staff are left to reflect on the season so far.
As such, we've constructed a Top 10 list of the most impressive players in the Bundesliga so far this season.
So take a look, make up your mind as to where you'd prefer to see certain players and let us know in the comments section below.
Those Who Didn't Make It
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Robert Lewandowski
Although the Poland international looks to have regained his composure in the last few weeks, his slow start to life in Bavaria cost him a spot in the Top 10. The goals will now likely start to fly in for Robert Lewandowski, but he's not back to his old self just yet.
Tin Jedvaj
Arriving on loan from Serie A side AS Roma, Jedvaj has turned a few heads with his increasingly impressive performances at right-back for Bayer Leverkusen. Although initially signed as a centre-back, the 18-year-old has looked very calm and composed on the wing.
Junior Diaz
At the club for two years now, Junior Diaz has emerged as a surprise star in Mainz's strong start to the Bundesliga season. Playing as a traditional left-back, the Costa Rican defender has been solid against every opposition he's faced thus far.
Haris Seferovic
This 22-year-old forward has burst into life for Eintracht Frankfurt after joining from Real Sociedad in the summer, registering three goals and two assists in his first seven games for the club (via WhoScored.com). Seferovic looks to have already repaid the transfer fee demanded by the Spanish club and is an important factor behind the club's current lofty position in the league.
10. Raffael
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We kick off the list with the familiar face of Borussia Monchengladbach's favourite Brazilian: Raffael.
Although the forward is nearly 30 years old, he still twists, turns and dribbles past opponents as if he were a teenager just bursting onto the scene.
Playing in his favoured No. 10 role for the Foals, Raffael has been instrumental in Lucien Favre's side making an early push for a Champions League spot with goals and assists aplenty.
9. Hakan Calhanoglu
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Hakan Calhanoglu joins our list as one of the most surprising performers in the Bundesliga this season.
Although great things were expected from the ex-Hamburg prodigy, nobody would have predicted just how quickly he would have slotted into this new-look Bayer Leverkusen side.
With two assists and a goal in just seven league appearances (via WhoScored.com) already this season, the Factory Squad are already seeing a tidy return for the money they spent on the 20-year-old star.
8. Sebastian Rudy
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Hoffenheim have never had trouble scoring goals in the Bundesliga, but until very recently, they've always struggled to keep the ball out of their own net.
However, so far this season, the league's least favourite club have tightened things up at the back and consequently flown up the league ladder.
This is in no small part down to Sebastian Rudy's redeployment at right-back. Although a natural defensive midfielder, the Germany international has been sublime on the wing, keeping tabs on the back line while offering plenty in attack.
Although he may still prefer to play in midfield, Rudy has already proven himself as one of the strongest in the league at the full-back position.
7. Shinji Okazaki
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With five goals in six Bundesliga games this season (via WhoScored.com), Shinji Okazaki is not only the top goalscorer at Mainz but also throughout the entire league.
The Japan international has always proved himself to be one of the division's top forwards when on form, and under new coach Kasper Hjulmand, Okazaki certainly looks to have found a new lease of life.
It comes as no surprise that, with such an abundance of goals, we've seen the carnival club slowly make their way up the Bundesliga table.
6. Mario Gotze
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Although already considered one of the most talented players in the Bundesliga, if not across the whole of Europe, Mario Gotze's recent rich vein of form for Bayern Munich is perhaps the first time we've seen the young forward consistently perform for the Bavarian club.
Alas, four goals in six games (via WhoScored.com) already this season suggest that we may see the 22-year-old playmaker reach the kind of heights he hinted at before leaving Borussia Dortmund.
Pep Guardiola's side look unstoppable this season, and it is in no small part down to this young man.
5. Ricardo Rodriguez
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Another familiar face for any accustomed Bundesliga fan, Wolfsburg's Ricardo Rodriguez comes in fifth in our list of the most impressive players so far this season.
Although the Wolves have looked a little shaky under Dieter Hecking this season, with two defeats in their first seven games, Rodriguez has stuck to his usual cool, consistent and ultimately dependable reputation as one of the best left-backs in Europe.
To add to his impressive defensive abilities, the Switzerland international has also already picked up three goals and an assist (via WhoScored.com) in this year's league campaign.
4. Roberto Firmino
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The second Hoffenheim player on our list, Roberto Firmino joins stars such as Okazaki and Rodriguez as a Bundesliga dependable from one year to the next, despite only being 23 years old.
Still surprisingly overlook by Brazil, the striker has continuously proven himself in the German top division and is wasting little time this season, registering a goal and three assists (via WhoScored.com) in just seven games for his club.
The international oversight is perhaps due to his age and the stature of his club. Regardless, Firmino is undoubtedly one of the best playmakers in Germany today.
3. Max Kruse
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At this moment in time, Max Kruse is probably the best forward in the Bundesliga.
While Lewandowski and Stefan Kiessling are still coming to terms with the new season, the Germany international has already bagged three goals and two assists in just five games (via WhoScored.com). Okazaki may have more goals, but what Kruse offers his team is simply irreplaceable.
Like Raffael, the 26-year-old regularly comes deep for the ball and finds himself playing the role of a playmaker as often as he does a goalscorer. A complete forward and undoubtedly Gladbach's most important player.
2. Karim Bellarabi
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It's been quite a year for Leverkusen's right-winger Karim Bellarabi.
In January the 24-year-old was out on loan at lowly Eintracht Braunschweig, picking at scraps while his side often got beat each week on their way to relegation. Fast forward 10 months and the midfielder is one of the most impressive players at Leverkusen and has just earned a call up to the Germany national team.
On the right of Leverkusen's attack, Bellarabi has contributed an incredible three goals and two assists in just seven league matches (via WhoScored.com) and is one of the main reasons this new Bayer side have surprised everyone with their form this season.
1. Arjen Robben
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"He’s superb at the moment," declared Bayern Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge when asked about Arjen Robben's form after the club's 4-0 win over Hannover, as reported by the club website.
Yet, despite Rummenigge's obvious bias on the matter, the Dutchman has been nothing short of incredible since returning to Guardiola's squad last month.
In just four games in the Bundesliga, Robben has scored three and assisted a further two (via WhoScored.com). More importantly, he has turned this team from dysfunctional and sloppy into the title-winning machine that it has been for the past two years.
Without Robben, Bayern look devoid of purpose and a direct line to goal that is needed in a league as competitive as the Bundesliga. Guardiola's squad may be the biggest sword in the armoury, but without this Dutch magician on the wing they often look far too blunt.
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