Matchday 31: Team of the Week

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There were rearguard actions, goals and assists coming from all angles in Matchday 31’s Team of the Week, with six different clubs providing representatives for this all-star XI.

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Cologne's Timo Horn saved every effort on his goal against Borussia Dortmund. - © imago

Goalkeeper

Timo Horn (Cologne)

The Billy Goats herded together to deny Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 31. Die Schwarzgelben managed an imposing 23 shots during the 90 minutes, but goalkeeper Horn was not to be beaten, including denying Raphael Guerreiro with the last kick of the game to secure Cologne a point away at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK.

Defenders

Nico Schulz (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

The Gladbach full-back had a day to remember against Mainz as he bagged his first goal and assist for the Foals. The assist for Lars Stindl was a superb counter-attack, whilst his goal was an instinctive strike into the top corner.

Neven Subotic (Cologne)

Returning to his parent club, Subotic was a rock in the Cologne defence that prevented Dortmund from scoring for the first time since 29 October 2016 and extended the Billy Goats’ unbeaten run against Borussia to six games.

David Alaba (Bayern Munich)

The Austrian’s free-kick in the first half opened the scoring and set Bayern on their way to securing a fifth straight Bundesliga title with a 6-0 win over Wolfsburg. Alaba has now scored five of his last seven league goals from free-kicks, whilst his last three strikes have come against the northern trio of Bremen, Hamburg and Wolfsburg after the winter break.

Watch: Subotic's emotional return to Dortmund:

Midfielders

Alessandro Schöpf (Schalke)

Schöpf netted for the ninth time in the Bundesliga in the Royal Blue of Schalke to become the highest-scoring Austrian in the club’s history. His goal capped off an amazing opening period for the Gelsenkirchen club that saw them lead 3-0 inside 20 minutes against Leverkusen, as well as providing the assists for the second and fourth goals of the game.

Halil Altintop (Augsburg)

Turkey’s highest scorer in the Bundesliga added two more to his total on Sunday as Augsburg put four past relegation rivals Hamburg to leapfrog the Bundesliga’s only ever-present club and move up to 13th. His first was a well-taken strike from just inside the box to open the scoring, whilst his second before the break capped off a tremendous first half for Die Fuggerstädter.

Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich)

The now six-time Bundesliga champion was at the heart of the Bavarians’ attacks as they slayed the Wolves to secure a fifth consecutive Bundesliga title with three games to spare. Two assists for Robert Lewandowski and Arjen Robben were later capped off by a goal of his own as he as usual found himself in the right place at the right time to turn home Lewandowski’s effort off the woodwork.

Fin Bartels (Werder Bremen)

Bremen’s unbelievable run of form continued again at the weekend with an 11th straight game without defeat to move them into sixth place. Bartels has been at the heart of that with three goals and six assists during that time, including one more of each against Hertha to secure a 2-0 win.

Watch: Thomas Müller talks title celebrations for Bayern:

Forwards

Guido Burgstaller (Schalke)

Schalke’s winter signing from Nürnberg scored his first away goals in the Bundesliga as the Royal Blues inflicted further misery on Bayer Leverkusen. His third Bundesliga brace in just 15 appearances matches his record in 63 Bundesliga 2 games and has given Schalke renewed hope of European football.

Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

Now back in the lead in the race for the Bundesliga Torjägerkanone, Lewandowski scored his tenth brace or better this season with goals 27 and 28 of the season as Bayern secured the title at Wolfsburg. Two clinical first-half goals put Bayern in the driving seat and also made him the fastest player to 75 Bundesliga goals for the club. His 93 games beat the previous best by legend Gerd Müller (108).

Max Kruse (Werder Bremen)

The Green-Whites’ remarkable recent form is intrinsically linked with the form of striker Kruse. His assist for Bartels’ opening goal was gracefully returned later as Bartels set up Kruse’s 14th goal of the Rückrunde to help Bremen up to an unthinkable sixth place.

Click here for the Matchday 31 round-up