Ranking Bayern Munich's Top 5 Players for September
September was a memorable month for Bayern Munich, who won all six of their fixtures in all competitions, conceding just twice and scoring a whopping 21 goals.
Looking through the ranks, there were some truly heroic performers. Douglas Costa affirmed the potential he showed in August with another brilliant month of football, while Robert Lewandowski scored 10 goals in the final days of September. And although both were outstanding, they were just two players among a squad that clicked in just about every circumstance.
With September having ended, B/R looks back at the month, picking out the top performers in the Bayern team based on their performances in all club competitions.
Click “Begin Slideshow" to start the countdown, starting with No. 5.
5. Jerome Boateng
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In another month, Jerome Boateng may have been selected in the top three or even as the best performer in the Bayern team. After serving a suspension for a red card earned in August, Boateng returned in excellent form in September.
Bayern kept four clean sheets in six games during the month, with Boateng starting all but one. The Germany international can’t be faulted for either of the goals conceded and deserves plenty of credit for his part in keeping opponents at bay.
Bayern actually played with only one natural center-back throughout the month and often with a very high defensive line. Much more was expected of Boateng than would be of most defenders, but the 27-year-old’s athletic supremacy both in terms of pace and strength, coupled with his attentive marking and skillful tackling technique, kept opponents at bay.
The ball reached an opposing striker with space to run into many times, but it was very rare that Boateng would be beaten. Typically, he’d shrug off his opponent and win the ball.
4. Thomas Muller
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Thomas Muller was arguably the best player in Europe from August until mid-September, but his form over the last couple weeks sees him slip to third on the list of Bayern’s top performers.
The 26-year-old scored and assisted in Bayern’s critical comeback win against Augsburg and netted twice (including the all-important opener) against Olympiakos in the Champions League.
Raw goal and assist tallies only tell part of the story with a player such as Muller, though, and the Germany international deserves credit for the considerable work he did off the ball and in the buildup.
Most superstar attackers can’t be bothered to run and play the more mentally intensive (and less universally exalted) parts of the game. Muller does it all, and much of Bayern’s form can be attributed to his.
3. Xabi Alonso
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Xabi Alonso had a mixed 2014-15 campaign, which started outstandingly well before fatigue seemed to set in and a few unforced errors proved to be rather humiliating to the veteran midfielder.
The 33-year-old has turned things around at the start of the current season, with the highly esteemed publication Kicker rating him behind only Robert Lewandowski on its list of best performers in the Bundesliga thus far this season.
A central midfielder who had never played a game in defense prior to the current season, Alonso recently filled in at center-back and took to it like a duck to water before returning to his natural role.
It took some real dedication, flexibility and class to switch back and forth, and Alonso played well in every circumstance, spraying the ball from deep areas to a front three that proved to be immensely prolific.
He played in five of Bayern’s six games in September; if he remains fresh and healthy, the veteran could have a vintage season.
2. Douglas Costa
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After turning heads in preseason and August, Douglas Costa continued his brilliant form in September, making the still-injured Franck Ribery an increasingly distant memory.
The Brazilian was a consistent menace in the Bavarians' attack, scoring a goal and assisting seven more. Critically, he’s managed to assist at least one goal in every Bundesliga game thus far this season.
That reliability of regular, tangible output is what set him apart from Muller and nearly every other player in Europe.
Beyond the goals and assists, it’s important to recognize that Bayern’s attack has quickly come to revolve around Costa.
Whereas Muller and Robert Lewandowski require service to both score and assist, the former Shakhtar Donetsk man has been the go-to man to set up attacking plays—not just play the final ball—time and time again.
Looking forward, it’s hard to see any defender in Europe marking him into anonymity if he’s at his best.
1. Robert Lewandowski
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As brilliant as Costa has been, Robert Lewandowski’s recent surge of form sees him take top spot on the list of Bayern’s best performers in September.
The Poland international has been scoring goals as though he’s playing a video game on “Beginner” mode, tallying a whopping 10 in his final two-and-a-half games of the month.
Prior to his five-goal outburst against a strong Wolfsburg that had been a goal ahead until his introduction, Lewandowski had been a bit quieter.
He was kept off the scoresheet against Olympiakos days after netting a vital equalizer against Augsburg. He then was kept out of the Bundesliga match against Darmstadt with an ankle injury before he went into full-on PlayStation mode.
With 11 goals and having turned four games by himself, Lewandowski pips Costa to top spot for September.
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