The 2019-20 Bundesliga season came to a close this past weekend, with an all-too-familiar outcome, as Bayern Munich won the league title a record eighth time in a row.
The recently-concluded campaign once again displayed the Bundesliga’s ability to produce and provide opportunities to young and emerging players, who could go on and become future superstars.
The German top-flight has lead the way in that regard for years now, and this season was no different.
So, we have tried to make a Bundesliga Team of the Season comprising of Under-23 players, using the 4-2-4 diamond formation.
Goalkeeper: Alexander Nubel (Schalke)
As Bayern Munchen continue to pluck the best young talents from rival clubs, Alexander Nubel is the latest to join the list as the Schalke goalkeeper joined the Bavarian club at the end of the season.
Alexander Nubel is one of the top shot-stoppers in the Bundesliga, and although he was just in his second full season with the Royal Blues, impressed everyone.
The 23-year-old kept six clean sheets in 26 league appearances in a season where Schalke’s defensive line was absolutely shambolic.
Right-back: Achraf Hakimi (Borussia Dortmund)
The Moroccan international, who recently completed a move to Italian giants Inter Milan, was the obvious choice at right-back.
The Real Madrid loanee virtually played as a winger as Dortmund boss Lucian Favre mostly opted for the 3-5-2 system.
Achraf Hakimi was directly involved in 15 goals (five goals and 10 assists) in the recently-concluded Bundesliga season, and no right-back comes even close to his offensive output.
He also helped BVB keep an impressive 14 clean sheets in 33 appearances.
Centre-back: Sebastiaan Bornauw (FC Köln)
The Belgian Under-21 impressed one and all in his first season in Germany as he helped FC Köln steer clear of relegation.
Sebastiaan Bornauw, who joined from Anderlecht last summer, was the most solid player in the defensive line of the newly-promoted Bundesliga outfit.
The young Belgian, who made 28 league appearances, scored an impressive six goals, in addition to helping his side keep five clean sheets. It won’t be long before top European clubs set their eyes on him.
Centre-back: Robin Koch (Freiburg)
Robin Koch, who is one of the top defensive talents in the league, has already featured for the senior German national team.
The defender was integral to Freiburg’s early success in the campaign, and although things didn’t go well for the Bundesliga club as the season progressed, the former Kaiserslautern man held his own on the field.
Koch featured in 32 league games, scoring once and helping Freiburg keep seven clean sheets.
Left-back: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)
Phenomenal – that’s the word we can use to describe the Canadian international, who had a stellar Bundesliga campaign for Bayern Munich.
A winger by trade, Alphonso Davies was played as a left-back by both Niko Kovac and Hansi Flick.
Besides providing stability to the Bavarians’ defence, the versatile speedster managed three goals and five assists in 29 league outings.
Defensive midfielder: Weston McKennie (Schalke)
Schalke’s second representative in the team, Weston McKennie takes his place in midfield. Despite his side’s poor Bundesliga campaign, McKennie was mostly solid in the middle of the park.
The American international is an integral part of both his club and country, despite being only 21. In 28 league appearances, he managed three goals, despite playing from a deeper role.
Attacking midfielder: Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Kai Havertz is widely regarded as the next-big-thing in German football.
The versatile 21-year-old can play as a winger, a striker or a playmaker, thus making him a valuable asset to the Bayer Leverkusen team.
After scoring 12 goals and providing six assists in 30 league games, Havertz has been linked with a move away from the club, with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea credited with showing interest in him.
Right-wing: Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund)
The young Englishman is a youth World Cup winner and when Borussia Dortmund announced his signing from Manchester City two years back, it came as a huge shock, as very few English players move abroad at such a young age.
Fast forward to 2020, and Jadon Sancho is now valued at €100 million, after impressing everyone with his pace, dribbling and game-changing ability.
The winger made 32 Bundesliga appearances in the recently-concluded season, scoring 17 goals and providing 16 assists – phenomenal numbers.
Left-wing: Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)
RB Leipzig are one of the best clubs when it comes to scouting young talents, and Christopher Nkunku is a prime example.
The 22-year-old, who was playing his first season in Germany after joining from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, mesmerized everyone with his pace and ability to take on defenders.
The French youngster played 32 league games, scoring five goals and providing 13 assists. The stats look even more impressive when you realise that most of his appearances came from the bench.
Striker: Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)
Arguably the best young striker in the world at present, Erling Haaland took the Bundesliga by storm since joining Dortmund from Austrian outfit RB Salzburg in January.
The 19-year-old, who is known for bullying defenders with his pace and physicality, scored 13 goals and set up two more in just 15 league outings.
It’s almost impossible to believe that the Norwegian is still only a teenager.
Striker: Marcus Thuram (Borussia Monchengladbach)
The young Frenchman played a key role behind Borussia Monchengladbach qualifying for the Champions League next season.
The son of former World Cup-winning defender, Lilian Thuram, the 22-year-old was ruthless with his pace and dribbling in his first season in Germany, having joined Monchengladbach from Guingamp last summer.
Marcus Thuram, who can play as a winger or a striker, made 31 Bundesliga appearances, scoring 10 goals and setting up eight more.
Here’s how our Under-23 Bundesliga Team of the Season would line up.
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