Bundesliga This Week: Mkhitaryan, Costa and Partnerships
The 2015/16 Bundesliga season has kicked into full flow following last weekend’s first round of games, which includes some surprising results; Dortmund thrashing fellow heavyweights Gladbach; Ingolstadt upsetting Mainz at the Coface and surprise-package Augsburg losing to strugglers Hertha Berlin.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan could continue his fine scoring form
The Armenian has already scored six goals in four games for BVB so far this season in all competitions, including a brace last weekend against Gladbach. New Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel has brought the best out of the 26-year-old in his new attacking midfield role; this has ultimately attracted interest from Liverpool, Manchester United and Juventus. Tuchel’s men travel to new-boys Ingolstadt in their first game at the Audi Sportpark, where the 5-time Armenian footballer of the year could shine again against an inferior and possibly stubborn Ingolstadt back-4. Since the midfielder’s more central role in the Dortmund front line, he has looked a real threat going forward. With the pace of Marco Reus and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang either side of him, Dortmund and in particular, Mkhitaryan could benefit from a pacey counter attack when they visit the first-timers Ingolstadt.
Bayern’s Douglas Costa to shine at Hoffenheim
Winger, Douglas Costa has felt right at home since his £29 million summer move to Bayern Munich from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk. With a goal and an assist to his name in their opening drubbing of Hamburg at the Allianz Arena, the 24-year-old is enjoying life and rising to the intense expectation at the German Champions. Munich travel to Hoffenheim at the Wirsol Rhein-Neckar Arena and Costa could shine again against an often shaky and rather inconsistent Hoffenheim defence. Pavel Kadeřábek, the Hoffenheim right back, will be in for a torrid afternoon if the Brazilian displays the same class swagger he showed on his Bundesliga bow with close ball control and a variance of different speed on the ball.
Partnerships could be key for Hamburg and Stuttgart
Last season’s play out winners Hamburg and last day relegation escapees Stuttgart meet at the Volksparkstadion in what could potentially be a crucial relegation six-pointer. The 2014/15 campaign resulted in Hamburg recording the worst goalscoring record of just 25 goals, while Stuttgart’s leaky and inexperienced defence conceded 60 times. Game week 1 has shown that both sides are already heading towards the same fate; Hamburg failed to score at Bayern, while Stuttgart conceded 3 late goals at home to FC Koln. Stuttgart’s saving grave, the prevalent goalkeeper Sven Ulreich has moved to Bayern paving the way for Polish keeper Przemyslaw Tyton to fill the boots of the heavily respected keeper. At the opposite end, 8-goal top goalscorer Martin Harnik will need to be more threatening in front of goal, the signing of Lukas Rupp from Paderborn could boost his chances of improving that against the poor defence of Hamburg. While, attack-minded midfielder Lewis Holtby and experienced striker Ivica Olic could be a key partnership for HSV against an inexperienced Stuttgart side this weekend – and for the rest of the season.
Keeping Kevin De Bruyne will benefit Wolfsburg
Kevin De Bruyne was subject to many transfer rumours, linking him to Manchester City throughout the summer, but the Belgian has made his intentions clear, he will be a Wolfsburg player this season. The winger assisted an impressive 21 times last season, the highest in the Bundesliga. With the signing of German international, Max Kruse and the ever forward menace, Bas Dost, goals should come thick and fast this season. Wolfsburg travel west to face FC Koln and De Bruyne is expected to provide as usual. The left side of Wolfsburg’s team is arguably the most exciting and threatening in all of German football with Ricardo Rodriguez and of course, Kevin De Bruyne constantly causing problems for opposition and FC Koln will be their latest victims. FC Koln struggled for goals last season, with top goalscorer Anthony Ujah moving to Werder Bremen. Anthony Modeste will be looking to continue his scoring form that he had at his previous employers, Hoffenheim.
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