Bayern Munich's James Rodriguez on the rise in numbers game
The battle for Bayern Munich hearts and minds is being fought, and won, by Colombian superstar James Rodriguez, whose talented feet are casting a spell on a bewitched Bundesliga.
With each passing week, the 26-year-old with pinpoint passing accuracy and a keen eye for goal is gaining in confidence and beginning to show an on-field poise that should have rivals rattled. The 2014 FIFA World Cup top scorer has had his injury problems since making a two-year loan switch to Bavaria from Real Madrid, yet they haven’t prevented Bayern’s newest pearl from racking up the goals and assists in his first season in Germany.
Saturday’s Klassiker in Dortmund opened with an away goal, and it was James who provided its spark, the attacker teeing up teammate Arjen Robben to net in the 17th minute.
It was the former Porto and Monaco star’s third such assist of the season. He has also weighed in with goals against top four contenders RB Leipzig and Schalke. During six fruitful encounters under coaches Ancelotti and Heynckes, the Cucuta native has had a hand in a goal every 66 minutes - the best of any player at the club this season. And his smile is widening with each passing game.
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“I'm doing what I love and I'm happy to be doing that here,” James said recently. “I like it more with each passing day.
Obviously I still need to adapt to my new life here in Munich, but it's [gradually] getting better.” With Bayern sitting pretty at the top of the Bundesliga standings, a happy James Rodriguez does not bode well for the division’s chasing pack.