Timo Werner has many skills that make a world-class striker. He sprints off almost every opponent's defender, has a hard shot and knows how to position himself in the room. Only one weakness plagues him: his chance exploitation. Werner needs more opportunities than other strikers to score.
Last season, he made 17 goals from 107 shots, which equates to 6.69 goals per goal. Robert Lewandowski, also a man of many chances, shows similar values (6.55 shots per goal). However, many other Bundesliga strikers score better, such as Leverkusen's Kai Havertz (5.12), Wolfsburg's Wout Weghorst (4.23) and Dortmund's Paco Alcácer (2.89).
In preparation, Werner seems to have worked on his degree. In the first three games of the season, he scored five goals, in the 3-1 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach he scored three times. He only needed three shots per goal this season. On the third match day Werner scored the highest possible SPIX score of 100 on his field performance. He is, of course, in the team of the matchday.
Werner has extended his contract in Leipzig after a long hiccup. At Schalke, those in charge hope that goalkeeper and captain Alexander Nübel will remain as well. His contract expires at the end of the season. In the 3-0 victory over Hertha BSC Nübel made advertising in its own right. He had to intervene three times, keeping his box clean. His name is not yet known everywhere. Hertha coach Ante Covic stumbled after the game and called him "Dübel".
Eintracht Frankfurt's Makoto Hasebe has lost none of its quality even at the age of 35. The veteran convinced in a 2-1 victory against Dusseldorf as a fixture in the Frankfurt tripartite chain, over him were the most attacks. In the build-up he reached such a strong value of 95. This qualifies him for the Topelf. Cologne's Jorge Meré , 22, played only 45 minutes in a 2-1 win over Freiburg. After coming on the pitch, Freiburg was only five shots, Cologne was without conceding after the break. This gave Meré a high value in the defensive team performance; With him on the court Cologne simply did not have much chance.
Fullbacks rarely score goals. That both full-backs of a club achieve a goal, has rarity value. Bayern's full-backs managed this feat in a 6-1 success over Mainz. Benjamin Pavard , currently scheduled by coach Niko Kovac as right-back, met by volley to interim 1-1. Left-back David Alaba scored the 2: 1 free-kick. Two full-backs, two goals: The Bayern are thus the wing tongs of Topelf.
Six, who can play great passes, abound. Sixes who go into dribbling are rare. Cologne's Ellyes Skhiri , before the season Montpellier committed, is one of the rare species of dribbling six. Three successful dribblings reach him right away in Freiburg. In injury time, he scored after a solo the 2-1 winner. In addition, Skhiri convinced as a balleroberer, his value in this area was strong 96.
Kingsley Coman is actually known as a dribbler. At the 6: 1 against Mainz he just disappointed in his parade discipline. Only one of his six dribbles he was able to prevail. He was present in the penalty area. He scored a goal himself, he prepared three big chances. Leipzig's Marcel Sabitzer was not directly involved in any goal. He made four shots, though. This is rewarded by the SPIX in the category Opportunity Creation (95).
Since the departure of Max Kruse Werder coach Florian Kohfeldt is not tired to emphasize that the loss of the captain is also an opportunity. Other players could step out of Kruse's shadow. So in Bremen many hopes rest on tens Yuya Osako . In the 3-2 win against FC Augsburg he showed his whole class. The Japanese not only scored two goals, he kept the calm and clarity even under high pressure. Osako faces the responsibility that has fallen to him since Kruse's departure.
Robert Lewandowski has a competitor: With five goals Timo Werner is close behind him in the scoresheet. Lewandowski scored his sixth goal of the season at the weekend. In the Topelf he is not. Here he has to bow to Frankfurt Gonçalo Paciência . The Portuguese prepared the interim equalization by the newly committed Bas Dost before and scored the 2-1 winner himself. Thus, Paciência is the first time in the Topelf.