Stindl, Kolasinac, Kramaric, Sabitzer and Grifo: the Bundesliga's underrated stars
The Bundesliga is so full of international stars that sometimes, we'll admit it, there are a number of talented players who don't get the attention they deserve.
It is in that spirit that bundesliga.com has picked out five of the top flight's most underrated stars to give some overdue attention...
Lars Stindl(Borussia Mönchengladbach)
Borussia Mönchengladbach fans have one man to thank for the club's upturn in form under Dieter Hecking since the turn of the year: Stindl. The 28-year-old has scored eight goals in 10 games in 2017, helping to lift his side from 14th at the halfway point of the season to ninth, where the Foals sit currently, plotting an assault on the European places. Among those eight goals was a remarkable hat-trick in Florence, booking Gladbach a slot in the UEFA Europa League last 16. Hotly tipped to be in the next Germany squad, a maiden call-up would be fine reward for an excellent servant to Bundesliga football.
Watch: click play on the video below to enjoy Stindl's brace in Gladbach's remarkable 3-2 win at Bayer Leverkusen:
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Sead Kolasinac(Schalke)
One of Schalke's best players this term, Kolasinac has been a revelation since moving to a left-wing-back role in Markus Weinzierl's preferred 3-5-2 formation. "It's definitely helped me a lot… playing with a three-man backline," the 23-year-old told bundesliga.com recently. "I know that I'm always covered when I push forward… I'm having a lot of fun picking and choosing my moments to get involved further up front." Kolasinac is certainly having fun: two goals and four assists are testament to his improved attacking play, while he is performing his defensive duties as solidly as ever.
Watch: Kolasinac found the net when Schalke beat Darmstadt earlier this season:
Andrej Kramaric(Hoffenheim)
The term for a super sub in German is a 'Joker,' although Kramaric's numbers for Hoffenheim this season have been nothing short of serious. Used as an impact substitute from the bench by Julian Nagelsmann, the Croatian boasts seven goals and seven assists this term as Hoffenheim close in on a maiden European qualification. The 25-year-old credits his impressive form to his young coach, Nagelsmann. "It's going well for me this season," he told Croatian outlet 24 sata before the winter break. "Nagelsmann is a class coach. We have some players who are older than he is [29], but I'm convinced that he's going to become a top coach like Pep Guardiola or Jose Mourinho."
Watch: click play on the video below to enjoy Kramaric's MD21 brace against Darmstadt:
Marcel Sabitzer(RB Leipzig)
A Bayern Munich fan as a child, Sabitzer could well be turning his boyhood club over at the top of the charts if RB Leipzig's fairytale season continues. One of his side's unsung heroes, Sabitzer has been involved in 21 of the Red Bulls' 23 games this term. His return of five goals and three assists are impressive enough in a debut Bundesliga campaign, but the 22-year-old's importance to his side comes in his high-pressing game. Brought up in the new Austrian school of pressing, the attacking midfielder embodies coach Ralph Hasenhüttl's aggressive, front-foot philosophy.
Watch: Sabitzer scored the winner against Hoffenheim on MD18:
Vincenzo Grifo(Freiburg)
Another attacking midfielder enjoying a superb campaign with a promoted side is Grifo. The 23-year-old has started every game for Freiburg this season, returning five goals and seven assists, reportedly even attracting scouts from the Italian national team to monitor his progress. A versatile attacking midfielder in the modern German mould, Grifo – who was born in Baden-Württemberg, but whose parents hail from southern Italy – credits his coach Christian Streich with his rise to the top. "Our relationship is like that of a father and a son," he told SPOX last season. "I'm very open with him and if I have something to say, then we talk about it together."
Watch: Grifo hit the net in a thrilling 2-2 draw against Hamburg on MD21: