Bundesliga: Ranking the Best 11 Players of the Week
73 days we had to go meander through life without the Bundesliga. Now it's time to fit it back into our schedule.
Of the five most expensive Bundesliga transfers this summer, Bayern Munich command three of them (Manuel Neuer, Jérôme Boateng and Rafinha).
Judging by last weekend's dismal loss against Borussia Mönchengladbach, they might go back into the transfer market.
Borussia Dortmund disappointing lost Nuri Şahin, the Bundesliga's best player, for a cut price to Real Madrid.
Though a homegrown wunderkind will rise to the occasion, where does this prodigy rank in this week's best eleven players?
Does Neuer, the third most expensive goalkeeper of all-time, make the list?
11. Markus Rosenberg
1 of 11Werder Bremen's 28-year-old Swedish forward Markus Rosenberg, scored twice in a 2-0 victory over Kaiserslautern.
Die Werderaner fans will be pleasantly surprised with Rosenberg's early form, given he spent the large majority of last season on loan at Racing Santander.
With talented yet troubled Marko Arnautović still out of favour with manager Thomas Schaaf, it could be Rosenberg's time to shine.
Rosenberg's contract ends next year.
10. Sascha Mölders
2 of 11Augsburg's 26-year-old German centre forward Sascha Mölders' two goals ensured his team didn't lose their first ever Bundesliga game against Freiburg.
Since a forgettable Bundesliga campaign with Duisburg, Mölders has been a regular goalscorer in the lower divisions, yet wondered if he was good enough to make it at the upper echelons of German football.
He's made a good start, now he needs to keep scoring if he wants to keep unfancied Augsburg safe from relegation.
9. Philipp Wollscheid
3 of 11Nuremberg's 22-year-old German centre back Philipp Wollscheid continues to excel, this time against promoted Hertha Berlin.
Wollscheid was solid in the tackle, composed in distribution, and shut down Hertha Berlin forward Pierre-Michel Lasogga.
If Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger does not want to shell out major money for Christopher Samba or Gary Cahill, why not make a bid for Wollscheid?
8. Clemens Fritz
4 of 11Werder Bremen's 30-year-old German utility player Clemens Fritz was instrumental in his side's 2-0 win against Kaiserslautern.
Whilst teammate Markus Rosenberg gain the attention with his two goals, it was Fritz's work on the right wing which should be applauded.
Fritz spent the majority of last season at right back, and even played a few games in the centre midfield, but his man of the match performance on the right wing may give manager Thomas Schaaf some food for thought.
7. Jan Schlaudraff
5 of 11Hannover 96's 28-year-old German forward Jan Schlaudraff was the deciding factor in the 2-1 victory over Hoffenheim.
With Hoffenheim goalkeeper Tom Starke barking orders at his wall, referee Thorsten Kinhöfer allowed Schlaudraff to cheekily whip a free kick over the wall into the vacant left side.
Raphael Honigstein at guardian.co.uk reported Starke saying, "I looked like an a**hole."
Schlaudraff then won a penalty to which teammate Mohammed Abdellaoue converted.
6. Sven Ulreich
6 of 11Stuttgart's 23-year-old German goalkeeper Sven Ulreich did his part in a 3-0 victory, making vital saves which never allowed Schalke into the game.
If Ulreich continues his form goalkeeping, he could be elevated into the German national team.
Just a side note, not only was the game entertaining but referee Wolfgang Stark had a tremendous game, and if any aspiring referees want to be the best, watch Stark's performance in this game.
5. Sami Allagui
7 of 11Mainz's 25-year-old Tunisian forward Sami Allagui impressed in a 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
Last season, Allagui had a man of the match performance against Bayern Munich, and rose to the occasion when Mainz needed him.
Especially when Mainz's best player last season, André Schürrle, was playing for the opposing team.
Allagui is an interesting case, he couldn't break into the German national team set up, so he decided to represent Tunisia. Didn't break into Anderlecht, and has had to tough it out in order to get where he is.
4. Mario Mandžukic
8 of 11Wolfsburg's 25-year-old Croatian forward Mario Mandžukić showed why he has to play as a forward in a comprehensive 3-0 win against Köln.
Last season Mandžukić drifted in and out of games as a winger, yet when he was moved to forward, he was oustanding.
Ironically in April, Köln were also on the wrong end of some Mandžukić magic, losing 4-1.
Last week, Mandžukić's speed and incisive runs were too much for Köln.
3. Kevin Großkreutz
9 of 11Borussia Dortmund's 23-year-old left sided midfielder Kevin Großkreutz profited from the attacking and creative philosophy fostered by manager Jürgen Klopp.
Hamburg is a good team, but their defence was at all sea losing 3-1, in which Großkreutz scored twice.
Großkreutz is a real unsung hero, and his tireless running adds another dimension to this ever impressive looking Borussia Dortmund.
2. Marc-André Ter Stegen
10 of 11Borussia Mönchengladbach's 19-year-old German goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen outshone Bayern Munich's highly rated goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
As Dante and Roel Brouwers attempted to stop Bayern Munich's offensive raids, Stegen stood tall in denying Bayern Munich shot after shot.
Potentially this season, Stegen can emulate Freiburg goalkeeper Oliver Baumann's breakout performances last season.
1. Mario Götze
11 of 11Der wunderkind!
Borussia Dortmund's 19-year-old right sided midfielder Mario Götze showed why he is a wunderkind against hapless Hamburg.
Right side, left side, in the center, it doesn't matter.
What matters is that as Götze has possession and Hamburg found that out the hard way in a 3-1 loss.
The midfield play between Shinji Kagawa and Götze was eye candy and to think manager Jürgen Klopp bought Kagawa for just €350,000, yes €350,000.
Potentially Germany could have a midfield three of Götze, Mesut Özil and Thomas Müller—überlegen.
