Title contenders Bayern and RB Leipzig dominate Bundesliga best XI

August draws to a close and with it, we’re one month down in the Bundesliga season. RB Leipzig have made a 100% start to the campaign and are, of course, well represented in the best XI of the month, as are defending champions Bayern Munich. The duo occupy the top two spots ahead of their domestic showdown after the hiatus and dominate the Bundesliga best XI for August. 

Goalkeeper: Alexander Nubel (Schalke) - 7.04 rating 

Following Ralf Fahrmann’s move to Norwich, youngster Alexander Nubel has been firmly instilled as Schalke’s number one and he started the season with aplomb, keeping two clean sheets in three appearances for the Bundesliga outfit, that more than any other goalkeeper. While he conceded three times in a loss to Bayern Munich, he made 10 saves in August, a solid return, to help land a WhoScored rating of 7.04. 

Right-back: Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich) - 7.59 rating 

The first of three Bayern players to feature in the August best XI, Benjamin Pavard’s star performance came in their 6-1 mauling of Mainz 05 at the weekend. The Frenchman scored one and assisted another to land the man of the match award, while five clearances and four interceptions in August saw him secure an average WhoScored rating of 7.59 last month. 

Centre-back: Nordi Mukiele (RB Leipzig) - 7.58 rating 

Making the most of Dayot Upamecano’s absence, compatriot Nordi Mukiele has excelled for an RB Leipzig side that boasts a 100% start to the season. The title contenders have overcome two daunting obstacles in Eintracht Frankfurt and Gladbach to start the campaign, with Mukiele named the WhoScored man of the match award in the former, and ranks top for tackles (12) in the Bundesliga to return a WhoScored rating of 7.58. 

Centre-back: Stefan Posch (Hoffenheim) - 7.34 rating 

Hoffenheim have endured a mixed start to the campaign, claiming four of a possible nine available points, but young centre-back Stefan Posch has put in a handful of solid showings in defence for the German outfit. The Austrian ranks highly for tackles (10) in August, while 10 clearances and seven interceptions were enough for Posch to make the best XI in August with a WhoScored rating of 7.34. 

Left-back: Marcel Halstenberg (RB Leipzig) - 7.54 rating 

Rounding off the defence, Marcel Halstenberg has continued where he left off this season with a WhoScored rating of 7.54 enough to make the best XI in Germany for August. The German scored one and assisted another in his standout performance of the campaign in their 4-0 win over Union Berlin, as he returned a 80% dribble success rate last month to feature in this side. 

Right midfield: Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) - 8.28 rating 

The first of two Borussia Dortmund representatives, Jadon Sancho has had a direct hand in five of the nine goals BVB have bagged in the Bundesliga this term. While he couldn’t guide last season’s runners’ up to victory at Union Berlin over the weekend, it was still a month to remember for the teenager, who came away with a WhoScored rating of 8.28. Two goals and three assists came from respective returns of six shots and seven key passes, while no player completed more dribbles than the England international (11) to star in this XI. 

Central midfield: Ellyes Skhiri (FC Koeln) - 7.42 rating 

FC Koeln earned their first win of the season following their Bundesliga return, with Ellyes Skhiri playing a vital role in the 2-1 win at Freiburg. Indeed, he scored one and assisted another in a man of the match performance and it means his average WhoScored rating for August was a respectable 7.42. He made 15 tackles and interceptions combined to reinforce statistically calculated WhoScored strengths of ‘tackling’ and ‘ball interception’ last month and was good value for his inclusion in the best XI for August. 

Central midfield: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich) - 7.36 rating 

Joshua Kimmich’s best performance of the season came in Bayern’s 6-1 win at Mainz on Saturday as he provided his first assist of the campaign in the resounding victory. Operating in midfield, Kimmich’s distribution has once again come to the fore with his 254 passes enough to rank among the top 10 players in August, while an 89% pass success rate was also commendable. In a solid month, Kimmich landed a WhoScored rating of 7.36 to make the cut. 

Left midfield: Timo Werner (RB Leipzig) - 8.31 rating 

Rounding off the RB Leipzig contingent is star striker Timo Werner, who capped his new contract with a hat-trick against Gladbach on Friday night. The Germany international has scored in every Bundesliga appearance this season, netting five times in his three league outings, and it saw him land an average WhoScored rating of 8.31 in August, that the second best of all Bundesliga players in August. 

Striker: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) - 8.67 rating 

Pipping Werner to top spot in the player rating standings for August was Bayern’s powerhouse frontman Robert Lewandowski. The Polish hitman netted more goals (6) than any other Bundesliga player in August, with his six goals coming from 16 shots, that also more than any other player. It translated to an excellent WhoScored rating of 8.67, that not only the best in the Bundesliga, but in Europe’s top five leagues last month too, as Lewandowski signalled his intentions to land Europe’s golden boot this season. 

Striker: Paco Alcacer (Borussia Dortmund) - 8.05 rating 

Having had a direct hand in five goals in August, scoring four, Borussia Dortmund’s Paco Alcacer rounds off this XI with a WhoScored rating of 8.05. The Spaniard enjoyed a fine goalscoring record for the Bundesliga outfit last term and has now scored in every competitive BVB appearance this season, all the while maintaining his prolific on target record having mustered five shots on target in August.