Bayern Munich: Full Report Card for Every Position for October

Bayern Munich may have dropped points in the Bundesliga this month, following a hard-fought draw with Gladbach on Sunday, but the Bavarian giants bounced back perfectly in the DFB-Pokal with a 3-1 over Hamburg on Wednesday. 

Despite minor blips, Pep Guardiola's team remain on course to pick up silverware in every competition they have entered so far this season. Whether it be a collection of domestic trophies or more enticing offers across the continent. 

Here is how each position fared in the month of October.

Goalkeeper

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Manuel Neuer: A+

As we saw against Gladbach on Sunday and countless times already this season, Manuel Neuer is one of the best goalkeepers in the world—a player who continuously proves his worth to this side. 

If it wasn't for the towering Germany international, the club would undoubtedly be on shakier ground in the league and possibly in the Champions League too. Bayern would perhaps still be first in the respective tables in each competition, but they would be nowhere near as comfortable as they are were it not for this shot-stopper. 

Defenders

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Jerome Boateng: A

Now regarded as perhaps the most competent central defender at Bayern and one of Germany's finest defenders, Jerome Boateng has continued to repay Guardiola's confidence in him by leading from the back of Bayern's defensive line. 

David Alaba: A

Although sometimes played as a central midfielder, we've seen David Alaba play primarily as a defender of one sort or another to an exceptionally high standard for most of this season. The Austrian full-back has quickly become one of Guardiola's most favoured players and subsequently found himself with added responsibility. It's been a joy to watch him run with the ball from deep and create plays on his own. 

Juan Bernat: A

At just 21 years old and signed at a minimal transfer fee from Valenica, Juan Bernat is undoubtedly one of the Bundesliga's top summer signings. The young Spaniard has, like Alaba, sometimes found himself in midfield as well as defence, yet whatever role he's been asked to perform has been played with simple excellence.

Mehdi Benatia: B

Arriving from Rome in the dying moments of the transfer market, Mehdi Benatia was always going to struggle adapting to life in Munich so quickly. What we've seen from the Morocco international is a basic understanding of his role at the club and what is expected of him. He's not exactly pulling up trees at the moment, but he's not been too bad either.

Dante: C

It's been a while since we've seen the very best of Dante in the colours of Bayern. Now at 31 years of age, the Brazilian defender has suddenly seen his form and performances for the club plummet from one game to the next. Where he was once a leading star in Bayern's defence, Dante is now one of their biggest risks.

Rafinha: C

As a squad reserve who spent much of his time in the reserve team under the previous manager, Rafinha has enjoyed more responsibility in the first team since Guardiola arrived at the club. However, the Brazilian is a limited full-back and as such has found himself coming on for more attacking players to see out games Bayern have since won.

Midfielders

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Xabi Alonso: A

Despite arriving at the club as cover for an already established midfield, Xabi Alonso has since found himself at the heart of a reconstruction effort at Bayern, a club hoping to overcome the losses of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez to injury. Fortunately for Guardiola, the Spaniard has taken to the Bundesliga like a duck to water and performed exceptionally well throughout each game.

Philipp Lahm: A

Alongside Alonso in midfielder, we've seen remoulded full-back Philipp Lahm continue his new adventures in the middle of the park with the same grace and professionalism that made him one of the best defenders in the world. As captain of the side, Lahm continues to lead by example despite playing an entirely new position.

Sebastian Rode: C

Although Sebastian Rode was never signed with the intention of becoming a regular first-team player at first, even he must begin to wonder how many players have to get injured before he can start games. The 24-year-old has looked solid whenever he has had a shot in the team, but that's been very rare. As such, it is very hard to judge him at this point.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg: C

In a similar situation to Rode, young midfield talent Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has had to make do with limited appearances in the first team despite an apparent lack of cover in the positions. The Denmark international did line up against Werder Bremen and was exceptional throughout, but that was his first start of the season. We need to see more of this young talent.

Forwards

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Arjen Robben: A

Bayern aren't quite Bayern without Arjen Robben. At least that's what it seems like, according to how this season is currently going. The Dutchman has been instrumental in almost all their success and was notably absent in their draw with Gladbach on Sunday.

Mario Gotze: A

Like Robben, Mario Gotze has also proven himself as rather vital to any success Bayern have in front of goal so far this season. Perhaps confidence bred from that winning goal in the World Cup final, Gotze seems to have grown into a new role at the club, which could now finally see him claim the title of playmaker in chief.

Robert Lewandowski: B+

After a slow start to the season that was threatening to damage the Polish striker's reputation in Germany, Robert Lewandowski found his feet in Munich in October and finally started scoring for Guardiola's side. Although not quite back to his best yet, he has started looking something like his old self.

Thomas Muller: B

Widely regarded as one of Bayern's most exceptional players, Thomas Muller can only be graded down for simply not looking like the outstanding player that he has been for Bayern over the course of the past two seasons. Although still instrumental in attack, we're still waiting for the Germany international to burst into life as he did last season.

Xherdan Shaqiri: C

Although Xherdan Shaqiri has started a handful of games for Bayern this season, the young Switzerland international still hasn't proven to be anything to get too excited about around Munich. Unless he can turn things around soon, he'll continue to keep his role as back-up attacking midfielder for the remainder of the season.

Claudio Pizarro: D

Having started just one game this season, Claudio Pizarro is continuing his role as back-up striker for Bayern. However, the veteran striker has yet to score in the Bundesliga this season, which offers little use to his manager or club.