Bundesliga Team of the Month: Bayern Munich’s struggles illustrated in September XI

Bayern Munich manager Niko Kovac is under pressure and we aren’t even three months into the season. The reigning Bundesliga champions are winless in three league matches and languish four points off league leaders Borussia Dortmund, with two of those games falling in September.

Bayern only conceded 17 goals in Pep Guardiola’s final season at the club and they have already shipped eight times in their opening seven games. Mats Hummels does at least make the WhoScored best rated XI for September, offering Bayern their only piece of solace after a difficult few weeks.

Hummels only made three appearances in the league in September, with Bayern winning two and drawing one. Bayern only kept two clean sheets in five Bundesliga games last month and both came with Hummels starting at the back. The 29-year-old won 15 aerial duels across his three appearances, while also making another 15 tackles and interceptions combined. The Germany international attempted over 100 passes in two of games.

With Bayern flattering to deceive, the best rated XI is instead dominated by league leaders Dortmund. Lucien Favre’s side are the only side left in the Bundesliga this season yet to taste defeat and they are three points clear of their nearest challengers.

Dortmund starlet Jacob Bruun Larsen finished September as the WhoScored Player of the Month after playing a direct hand in three goals in as many matches (two goals, one assist). In that time, the 20-year-old created six goalscoring chances, completed two dribbles and made seven tackles and interceptions combined.

Larsen is joined in the XI by teammates Marco Reus and Manuel Akanji. The former scored or assisted four goals and completed six tackles, while the latter made 15 clearances, eight interceptions and completed 93.6% of his passes.

Gladbach have also made a good start to the season, one of four sides three points adrift of Dortmund. Summer signing Alassane Plea has hit the ground running for his new side and holds down one of the starting spots in attack in our best rated XI. The 25-year-old scored or assisted in each of his five appearances in September (four goals, one assist)

Plea is joined in the XI by Gladbach teammate Thorgan Hazard. The Belgium international finished September with goals in his last three appearances and also registered 12 key passes in five matches.

While the aforementioned players had months to remember, the same cannot be said for Augsburg goalkeeper Fabian Giefer. The 28-year-old made three appearances in September and failed to keep a clean sheet, finishing on the losing side twice and drawing the other. Of players that started at least three Bundesliga games in September, Giefer finished as the lowest WhoScored rated player (5.60).