Bundesliga Team of the Season so far

Stuart Telford

• 20 Dec 2022 23:09 GMT
• 6 min read

Bayern Munich lead the way once again in the Bundesliga, with Jamal Musiala and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting in particular stepping up in the absence of Robert Lewandowski…

Bayern have taken the tourist route to the top this season, however, with Freiburg and then Union Berlin keeping the top of the table warm until the champions reclaimed top spot on Matchday 13.

With Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland leaving for Barcelona and Manchester City respectively at the start of the season it was time for new heroes to come to the fore, and they have done that and then some.

READ: 10 Bundesliga players who could move in January

Football Transfers looks at the best XI of the season so far…

Frederick Ronnow

Manuel Neuer may be the best goalkeeper in Germany, the world, and perhaps even of all-time, but there is no overlooking Frederick Ronnow's contribution to Union's cause this season. The Dane has the highest save percentage league-wide (81.4%) and is a large part of the reason the Irons led the way for six rounds of games.

Jeremie Frimpong

Statistically the best right-back in the Bundesliga per Football Transfers' official partner SciSports, Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong is top for dribbling, finishing and offensive positioning so far this season. Boasts two braces - against Mainz and Schalke - and was unlucky to find himself behind Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries for the Netherlands at the World Cup.

Dayot Upamecano

Dayot Upamecano has come in for criticism before now, the former RB Leipzig man accused of leaning on his physicality to get him out of a bind caused by his poor positioning, but it takes a serious player to be Bayern Munich's most-used centre-back ahead of Matthijs de Ligt, Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez. Has won more duels (180) than any other centre-back. Little wonder he was first choice for France at the World Cup.

READ: Bayern Munich's 10 most expensive transfers of all time

Ramy Bensebaini

Equally happy playing centre-back as left-back, Ramy Bensebaini has been used in the latter position more often than not by Borussia Monchengladbach this season, from where he has hit five goals - a league joint-best among defenders alongside Frimpong. Perhaps unusually for the big Algerian, only one of his strikes has been a penalty. His performances have seen him linked with a summer move to Borussia Dortmund.

Christian Gunter

Picking one player from high-flying Freiburg isn't easy, but Christian Gunter is their captain and has led by example down the left, whether Christian Streich has lined his side up in a 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-3. Has averaged three shot-creating actions per game for the Black Forest club, who are Bayern's nearest challengers.

Joshua Kimmich

Bayern took a while to click into gear this season but now their engine is purring, and Joshua Kimmich is their main midfield motor. The Germany international is top for touches, key passes, through-balls, distance covered, shot-creating actions and a number of other stats league-wide. The think he used to be a right-back…

Jude Bellingham

Alongside Kimmich is a player who is already running him close as a generational midfielder at the tender age of 19. Has led Dortmund out in the Champions League already and continues to play like a captain for club and country. Has also added more goals to his game this season with nine in all competitions, and now the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City are queueing up to sign the Englishman.

Randal Kolo Muani

Randal Kolo Muani slipped into the Bundesliga under the radar, joining Eintracht Frankfurt on a free transfer from Nantes at the start of the season, but he has wasted little time exploding into the popular consciousness, with his five goals and 10 assists in the Bundesliga coming in at a rate of one every 75 minutes he has played. Deservedly made France's World Cup squad.

Jamal Musiala

Bayern might have worried where their goals were going to come from this season following Lewandowski's €50 million move to Barcelona, but with Jamal Musiala on their books they needn't have. The former Chelsea and England youth player, now a full Germany international, has nine goals and six assists to his name - and he doesn't even play up front! Still only 19 too.

Christopher Nkunku

Christopher Nkunku is the top scorer in the Bundesliga this season with 12 goals, which is quite a feat given that he doesn't always start up front. Injured his knee on the eve of the World Cup with France and has reportedly agreed terms on a summer transfer to Chelsea. Will be a loss to the Bundesliga and RB Leipzig if we don't see him light up the Red Bell Arena again.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting

It feels like a long time now since Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was relegated from the Premier League with Stoke after a five-goal season. The Cameroon international scored five times in five games before the break, and sneaks into this team ahead of Niklas Fullkrug and Marcus Thuram by virtue of those Lewandowski-shaped boots he had to fill.