5 Underrated Bundesliga Players to Keep an Eye on This Season

With the return of the Bundesliga, it’s easy to look at the star players that have been on top form so far this season. From goalscoring machines such as Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland, to assist maestros like Jadon Sancho and Thomas Muller, that have received plaudits all over the world for their stellar campaigns in Germany’s top tier.

However, there are many players whose impressive performances this season have gone under the radar. Whilst they don’t have the worldwide reputation as some of the top stars in the league that have shined, here are some who deserve a mention after a fantastic season.

Like all newly promoted teams, staying in one of Europe’s top leagues is always a tough ask. Union Berlin have surpassed everybody’s expectations after a remarkable campaign where they have steered clear of a relegation battle – currently sat mid-table and just nine points off Europa League qualification.

One of the key men at the heart of their squad is defensive wing-back Christopher Trimmel. The 33-year-old has adapted with ease in his first Bundesliga season, being a rock at the back for his team whilst also getting forward and impressing as an attacking outlet.

The right-back or right midfielder has played a hand in his teams attacking play with nine assists in the league this season, showing just how important the Austrian has been in Union’s first season back in the top-flight.

Borussia Monchengladbach are another team that have perhaps exceeded expectations so far this season. The foals fell three points short of Champions League football last season but started this year’s campaign as surprise title contenders. Whilst Marco Rose’s side have eventually slipped behind the big hitters of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, they still sit third in the table and a top four spot looks theirs to lose.

Denis Zakaria has been instrumental in their fight for a European place, as the complete all-round midfielder. The Swiss international’s performances may sometimes be overlooked by the partnership of Marcus Thuram and Alassane Plea up front scoring the goals, but nevertheless Zakaria has been a star man for the Gladbach.

The 23-year-old is capable of performing any role in the centre of the pitch but has enjoyed a defensive midfield role this season that has been. Zakaria has completed 26 take-on this season, more than any other defensive midfielder across Europe’s top five leagues, highlighting just how impressive the Gladbach midfielder has been.

After a good campaign last year saw them narrowly miss out on a Europa League final after semi-final heartache at the hands of Chelsea via penalties, as well as finishing just four points off a Champions League spot, Eintracht Frankfurt have failed to hit the same heights this season. The drop-off in form this season is no surprise when you see that the majority of the stars that were a driving force to their success, have since left the club – such as the red-hot strike partnership of Luka Jovic who sealed a £54million move to Real Madrid and Sebastien Haller who joined West Ham for £36million. Despite finding themselves in the bottom half and just five points off the bottom three, Filip Kostic has shone in an otherwise gloomy season for the Eagles.

The 27-year-old left winger was arguably an unsung hero in his first season for Frankfurt last season when he was on-loan from Hamburg, with the likes of Haller, Jovic and Ante Rebic receiving all the applause. This year, after completing a permanent move to the Commerzbank-Arena in the summer, Kostic has continued to show his class whilst the other have found pastures new.

Serbian winger Kostic been has a main influencer for Adi Hütter’s side. He has already set a new single-season personal best with 12 goals and 15 assists across his first 40 first-team outings in 2019/20. The tricky and technically gifted athlete is certainly one that deserves a mention after a campaign that merits credit.

Mainz would more than likely be in the bottom three if it wasn’t for Swedish attacking midfielder Robin Quaison. Die Nullfünfer are currently sat in 15th place -fourth from bottom- with just four points separating them from 16th placed Dusseldorf. Quaison has been a standout player for them and deserves recognition after an outstanding season.

The man that was once named the ‘Scandinavian Xavi’, Quaison is quick on his feet and excels at dribbling making him versatile in that he can play through the middle or on the wing. It’s in that second striker attacking midfield role though where the Swede has been a major threat this season, especially with his ability to find the net form outside the box.

Stats highlight just how stunning the former Palermo man has been this season. The 12 goals he has hit in the league this season is bettered only by some of the league’s best in Sancho, Werner and the juggernaut that is Lewandowski. The Mainz man deserves credit though for a season where he has been the driving force for his team’s probable survival.

RB Leipzig have been a force to be reckoned with ever since their promotion to the Bundesliga and haven’t finished outside the top six since their debut season in the 2016/17 competition, which saw them finish runners-up. The Red Bulls have continued to improve in Europe and in the league, as they challenge for a title yet again.

Timo Werner, Yussuf Poulsen, Marcel Sabitzer and many more of the reputable first-team squad are the likes of which who are talked about most frequently around the world, which means the top performances from attacking central midfielder Christopher Nkunku may go under the radar.

The 22-year-old Frenchman had a relatively slow start following his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer and failed to cement himself as a first-team regular. Now, the PSG academy graduate looks like a top bargain and has more than justified the meagre £11.7million fee Leipzig paid.

Nkunku has impressed as a creative outlet for the German side, shown through the 14 assists and four goals he’s notched up in the 24 appearances he’s made in the Bundesliga – with only 16 of those being starts. Only Sancho and Muller have more assists in the league than Nkunku this season, as the youngster continues to demonstrate his potential.