Bundesliga Top XI

The previous weekend brought some bad news to Bundesliga followers throughout the African continent: the first leg fixtures came to an end.

Do bear in mind that a number of our very own African players are embracing the Bundesliga with their talent. 

We took the opportunity a look at what perhaps could be the best 16 players that have graced the Bundesliga with top form, from Matchday 1 throughout the first leg fixtures.

We then combined these players alongside two selected managers to assist each other and came up with the ‘Bundesliga XI of the first round’.

We also selected  our list of Africa’s very own Bundesliga stars that have managed to feature for their clubs recently in the ‘Africans Bunds XI’.

MTNfootball’s Sandile Mazibuko took the initiative to select the 16 players and two managers that have taken the Bundesliga by storm since Matchday 1.

Bundesliga XI of the first round:

Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Borussia Monchengladbach)
The German youth international is in his second season with Gladbach. After making only 15 appearances in his debut season (2010), Stegen has managed to start all 17  first round fixtures for his side and has conceded only 11 times in the 17 outings. 

Andreas Beck (Hoffenheim)
Although Hoffenheim have not been consistent, Beck’s contribution has been unbelievable. His high work rate and huge contribution in both defence and attack makes him undoubtedly one of the exceptional right-backs in the Bundesliga. 

Daniel Van Buyten (Bayern Munich)
The Belgian international is having one of his best seasons presently, not only stopping attacks but also scoring some crucial goals for Bayern thus far. 

Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
Van Buyten is partnered by a former teammate of his at Bayern Munich. Hummels was sold to Dortmund and has proven a costly loss and has even haunted Bayern when he stymied all their attempts at scoring when they played against each other. Humels partners Van Buyten in the heart of defence. 

Christian Fuchs (Schalke)
Fuchs’s splendid displayed haven’t gone unnoticed as he has been reported to be on the wanted list of EPL giants Manchester United. Despite the interest from abroad, Fuchs has been rock-solid at the back for Schalke.

Lars Stindl (Hannover 96)
Stindl is one of the future talents of Germany and has produced emphatic displays in the central defensive midfield role for Hannover this season. 

Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund)
Gotze is one of the best talents to come from Germany, with subtle creativity, skill and deadly passing ability coupled with sublime finishing. He earns a place in our XI.

Teemu Pukki (Schalke)
Naturally a forward, but he is being used in the midfield by Schalke. Pukki has shown signs of maturity with his ability to be versatile and he has an eye for goals. 

Lukas Podolski (Cologne)
Currently one of the top goal scorers in the Bundesliga, the Cologne and former Bayern man is in hot form for both club and country. In the 35 goals that Cologne has scored, 14 are to his name. He completes our midfield trio for this XI.

Marco Reus (Borrusia Monchengladbach)
Despite missing the last few matches of the campaign due to injury, Reus has scored more goals than he’s created out on the right wing and has captured the eye of the national team selectors. Reus is reported to be on the wanted books of many European giants, including Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Arsenal. 

Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich)
In 17 Bundesliga matches played by all teams thus far, Mario Gomez has netted 16 goals. Interestingly for Gomez, he finished top of the scorers charts of the Euro 2012 Qualifiers, and is currently joint top goal scorer of the Champions League with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.

Bench: Manuel Neuer (Bayern  Munich), Serdar Tasci (Stuttgart), Patrick Herrmann (Borussia Monchengladbach) Kevin Großkreutz (Borussia Dortmund) Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke)

Managers: Juup Heynckes assisted by Huub Stevens

Heynckes (Bayern Munich)

Comprehends the functioning of his players well, and as much as he knows he owns big name players like Arjen Robben and Frank Ribery, he has done a perfect job when it comes to utilising and maintaining them in order to get the best out of them. When he lost undoubtedly the best player in the team and in the League, Bastian Schweinsteiger, he knew which strings to pull in order to keep Bayern on the run.

Stevens (Schalke)

Despite coming in late, Stevens has managed to find his quick combinations and has linked up his forwards, Huntelaar and Raul, and has got the best out of the former. Just like Heynckes, he lost his best players, defender Benedickt Howedes and midfielder Jefferson Farfan, to injury, but he has quickly managed to bring the best out of the replacements. When he came in the Royal Blues were struggling with form but he has managed to inflict some changes.

‘Africa’s Bunds XI’ (without a goalkeeper)

Joel Matip (Schalke, Cameroon)
Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim, Ghana)
Karim Haggui (Hannover, Tunisia)
Chinedu Obasi (Hoffenheim, Nigeria)
Arthur Boka (Stuttgart, Ivory Coast)
Ibrahima Traore  (Suttgart, Guinea)
Maxim Choupo-Moting (Mainz. Cameroon)
Dorge Kouemaha (Kaiserslautern, Cameroon)
Papiss Cisse (SC Freiburg, Sengal)
Anthony Ujah (Mainz, Nigeria)
Knowledge Musona ( Hoffenheim, Zimbabwe)

 Sandile Mazibuko, follow @Doc_Ndumo on Twitter.