Seven teams represented in our 2017/18 Bundesliga team of the season | OneFootball

One season, 34 matchdays, it’s all over.

The Bundesliga season has come to a close but what’s our team of the season?

Goalkeeper

Jiri Pavlenka (Werder Bremen)

If there’s a positive to Manuel Neuer’s injury, it’s the fact other Bundesliga goalkeepers were given their time to shine. Above all others, Bremen’s Jiri Pavlenka proved he is worthy of the spotlight. Week after week the Czech was a nightmare for opposition forwards and ultimately dragged Bremen out of the relegation battle sooner than anyone had expected.

Right-back

Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)

We’ll be honest: Joshua Kimmich scares us. The guy is 23 and plays like the most experiences player in the world. Kimmich is so robotically reliable that he’s quickly banished fears that Bayern would never be able to replace Philipp Lahm. Defensively reliable, offensively an incredible weapon. Kimmich is already a crucial player at Bayern.

Centre-backs

Naldo (Schalke 04)

Not so long ago, Naldo was hardly appreciated by Schalke fans. At the age of 34 the Brazilian was deemed too slow – mentally and physically – for the Bundesliga when he joined the club. It’s hard to believe now. Now? Naldo is arguably the best defender in Germany and even chips in with crucial goals. Just ask Dortmund.

Salif Sané (Hannover 96)

No Hummels, no Boateng, but a rock at the heart of the Hannover defence. When you consider the team Sané performs in (particularly compared to Bayern’s defenders) there’s no arguing how formidable his performances have been. Aerially dominant, never lacking in direct duels, and tidy with the ball at his feet, Sané has rightly become a fans’ favourite at Hannover.

Left-back

Philipp Max (FC Augsburg)

Max didn’t make it at Schalke and was forced to leave the club in 2014. Four years on and he provided the second most assists in the Bundesliga all season, falling just behind Thomas Müller. Pretty good company to be in. Probably the most improved player in Germany, Joachim Löw’s decision not to give him a chance of making the World Cup is baffling.

Centre-midfield

Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen)

Quietly, Lars Bender has had an outstanding season for Leverkusen. The midfielder has shaken off the injuries that have plagued him for much of his career to put in solid performances this season whether he was playing at the back, on the right, or in the middle of the park. One of the Bundesliga’s most reliable performers.

Naby Keïta (RB Leipzig)

The Bundesliga really will miss him. Knowing full well he would move to Liverpool at the end of the season, Keïta continued to give his all every single week. An incredible dribbler, a tigerish presser of the ball, and effective in the final third – the midfielder is everything that Leipzig’s football stands for. If he manages to avoid so many cards he will truly establish himself as a world class midfielder.

Right-midfield

Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich)

Der Wandel des Thomas Müller ist schon erstaunlich: Vom staksende Gaudibursch, der ihn dann doch immer irgendwie über die Linie drückt, wurde aus dem Ur-Bayer ein Führungsspieler, der sich auf das Vorbereiten spezialisiert hat. Und auch das macht eben einen großen Spieler aus: Er adaptiert sein Spiel an die Gegebenheiten und findet eine Lücke im System, die ihn unverzichtbar macht. Und wer Robert Lewandowski vor sich hat, kann sich auf wichtigere Sachen als das Toreschießen konzentrieren.

Left-midfield

Leon Bailey (Bayer Leverkusen)

During the first half of the season, Bailey was the most exciting player in the Bundesliga. Incredibly fast, unpredictable, and a fierce shot. Leverkusen’s impressive form owed a lot to his performances and the Jamaican is deservedly attracting a lot of attention from many of Europe’s top clubs. A player who gets fans on the edge of their seat and can make a stadium explode, it was a season to remember.

Attacking-midfield

James Rodriguez (Bayern Munich)

The Colombian had a stuttering start in Munich and many began to suggest his time at Bayern would go down in history as a bit of an error. They couldn’t have been more wrong. After adapting to the club and the league, he became Bayern’s most decisive player. They look a different side when he plays.

Striker

Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

The only player in the entire Bundesliga who absolutely must be included. Lewandowski remains as clinical as ever and ended the season with by far the most goals in the league. The fact he is flirting with Real Madrid but is still celebrated in Munich just goes to show how talented he is.