DW's Bundesliga team of the week - Matchday 17
Daniel Didavi tops the players of the week for his big brace against Wolfsburg. Lars Stindl gave Borussia Mönchengladbach a breath of life after Granit Xhaka got sent off, and Vladimir Darida built on his midweek form.
Goalkeeper: Ron-Robert Zieler
Even with a depleted squad, Bayern is really hard to keep off the score sheet. Ron-Robert Zieler did just that, collecting 10 saves against the Bundesliga champions to keep Hannover within striking distance. The only goal that he had to dig out of the back of his net was a penalty, but unfortunately Hannover could not muster enough of a response to win him the match.
Defender: Mitchell Weiser
His future is on a very positive trajectory after his move to Berlin. His performance against Mainz was another thread in a string of strong performances. He poked away chances from a Mainz team who barely managed a shot, and took on defenders with confidence. He has been one of the main reasons Berlin is in third place, and at 21, he is one of the best Bundesliga prospects to watch.
Defender: Sokratis Papastathopoulos
Unfortunate defensive mistakes undid Dortmund as they lost to Cologne, but Sokratis Papastathopoulos shone through the rough performance. His header got him on the scoresheet, sure, but it was his work at the defensive end that made his performance stand out. He was a rock next to a flimsy Mats Hummels, and a late goal loss is going to bury his contributions in the match.
Defender: Jonas Hector
Defense was key for Cologne when they took on the second-best team in Germany, and Jonas Hector was a major part of that key. With five defenders, he not only had to hold his ground as a defender, but help Cologne transition into attack. He did both with gusto, and Cologne came out the victors because of it.
Midfielder: Marcel Heller
If Darmstadt were going to have a chance against a reeling Mönchengladbach side, their star Marcel Heller was going to have to do something significant. He did, opening the scoring with a swinging volley to put Darmstadt ahead early. He continued to stretch the play and use his pace to keep the game tempo at a high level. He remains one of the unsung stars in the current Bundesliga.
Midfielder: Thiago Alcantara
Bayern squeeked by another opponent with just one goal, but the club was sure happy to have Thiago back. He was the best player on the park, restoring a playmaking element in the final third Bayern sorely had been missing. Had Ron-Robert Zieler not put in an unreal performance between the sticks, Thiago would have had more to show for his efforts.
Midfielder: Vladimir Darida
Coming off of a goal and an assist in the German cup in midweek, Vladimir Darida impressed again in Hertha Berlin's match against Mainz. Hertha dominated the match, and Darida's chance creation and skill were a big reason why. His efforts culminated with a well-timed turn that set up his strike in the first half. He is one of the intriguing characters in the Hertha success story.
Midfielder: Daniel Didavi
Stuttgart needed a statement win before the winter break, and Daniel Didavi made sure they had one. His brace against Wolfsburg not only vaulted Stuttgart out of the relegation zone, but made Wolfsburg's Champions League chances - both this year and next - look much more bleak. If he gets on a Daniel-Ginczek like roll, Stuttgart's chances to survive may skyrocket.
Forward: Javier Hernandez
Chicharito's scoring record is now to the point where he is singlehandedly masking the adversity Leverkusen is having as a club. Leverkusen's performance against Ingolstadt was far from their best, but Chicharito combined well with Stefan Kiessling to give Leverkusen a chance. One can only hope his torrid goalscoring form - 17 goals in his last 14 matches - can continue after a six-week break.
Forward: Sandro Wagner
Sandro Wagner does not provide much as a "traditional" striker, but used everything he could provide in Darmstadt's match Sunday. His header on from a throw-in set up Marcel Heller precisely for the match's opening goal, and he later headed in an equalizer off of a Heller cross. Mostly a backup in his career, Wagner taken his opportunities well at Darmstadt, and he may do enough to keep them up.
Forward: Lars Stindl
Once Granit Xhaka got set off, prospects of winning looked dim for Borussia Mönchengladbach. Lars Stindl grabbed the match by the scruff of the neck though, leading an impressive comeback for a 10-man Foals team. He has already helped Gladbach fans forget about Max Kruse, but he could ruffle a lot of feathers as the Foals continue their move up the table.