Neuer number one on Matchday 32
Munich - Not only did Manuel Neuer keep Borussia Dortmund at bay last weekend, he was also voted as the best player of Matchday 32 by the bundesliga.com users.
”Always a challenge”
The only player to pull one over the Bayern No1 on Saturday, Jakub Blaszczykowski, came second ahead of Schalke 04’s match-winner Julian Draxler.
“It’s always a challenge for us to play against Dortmund,” said Neuer, who had few regrets about conceding for only the fourth time away from home in the 1-1 draw. “It’s a clash between two evenly-matched teams, even if there wasn’t much riding on it as we're already champions.”
The Bayern and Germany number one emphasised his value with a fine save from Robert Lewandowski's second-half penalty, and earned 48 per cent of the bundesliga.com vote. Blaszczykowski, who did find a way past him, claimed 27 per cent of the vote for his efforts.
Draxler opens Champions League door
Draxler, whose late winner put the Royal Blues firmly on course for a place in the UEFA Champions League, took twelve per cent of the vote thanks to that potentially decisive strike. “If we beat Stuttgart, we can more or less secure fourth place and qualification for the Champions League,” said Schalke midfielder Jermaine Jones, looking ahead to Matchday 33. “The guys all want to play in the Champions League again next season and we don’t want to let go of this opportunity.”
Bayer 04 Leverkusen are certain to be playing in the Champions League next season, thanks in no small part to Stefan Kießling’s 23 goals this season - a new club record for a single season. He came fourth in the vote with seven per cent ahead of SC Freiburg’s Jonathan Schmid and Makoto Hasebe of VfL Wolfsburg.
