By Rune Gjerulff@runegjerulff

Best defensive midfielders in the Bundesliga of 2024 so far

Here are the best defensive midfielders in the Bundesliga of 2024 so far, according to German football magazine Kicker.
Article image

 

Every six months, Kicker publish a ranking of the best players in the Bundesliga, as well as the best German players abroad, divided into a number of categories.

The German football magazine have released the second part of their summer rankings based on the performances in the second half of the 2023/24 season. Below, you'll find the rankings for defensive midfielders.

World Class

None. 

International Class

1. Granit Xhaka, Bayer Leverkusen

2. Exequiel Palacios, Bayer Leverkusen

3. Angelo Stiller, Stuttgart

4. Marcel Sabitzer, Borussia Dortmund

5. Robert Andrich, Bayer Leverkusen

6. Amadou Haidara, RB Leipzig

National Class 

7. Aleksandar Pavlovic, Bayern Munich

8. Nadiem Amiri, Bayer Leverkusen/Mainz

9. Xaver Schlager, RB Leipzig

10. Leon Goretzka, Bayern Munich

11. Atakan Karazor, Stuttgart

12. Konrad Laimer, Bayern Munich

13. Leandro Barreiro, Mainz (now Benfica)

14. Lennard Maloney, Heidenheim

Bundesliga news

Eintracht FrankfurtToppmöller reveals injury for Theate
GladbachGladbach boss urges Stöger to play more simply
FC BayernBoey's agent plays down Marseille links
RB LeipzigRose insists he remains calm amid Leipzig crisis
Rumor Eintracht FrankfurtReport: Frankfurt set minimum price for Larsson amid interest from top clubs
FC BayernPavlovic nears return to Bayern squad
FC BayernSané risks suspension for elbow against Dortmund
RB LeipzigLeipzig hit by new injury blow: Lukeba out for months
FC BayernZaragoza's agent hits out at Tuchel
Rumor Borussia DortmundDortmund keen to extend Schlotterbeck's contract, Sky reports
VfB StuttgartBredlow set for rare Stuttgart start
Leverkusen & BayernXabi Alonso explains why Kane's absence is not just an advantage for Leverkusen
Rumor Bayern & HoffenheimBayern reportedly join race for Bischof

Table

Kickfieber

Match days

Team of the week BundesligaBundesliga Team of the Week: Matchday 12
Post-match reaction EINTRACHT FRANKFURTToppmöller praises "outstanding" Brown in Heidenheim victory
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 12Frankfurt on fire as Heidenheim ship heavy defeat
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 12Burkardt brace the difference as Mainz oust Hoffenheim
Post-match reaction Borussia DortmundSahin and Jablonski decline fight over late Bayern equalizer
Post-match reaction RB LeipzigSchäfer's guarantee: Rose to remain in charge through Wednesday
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 12Spoils shared: Bayern nick draw off Dortmund late
Preview Bundesliga Matchday 12Mainz vs Hoffenheim preview: Pivotal mid table clash
Other Bundesliga Matchday 12Confirmed Lineups: Dortmund vs. Bayern
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 1215:30 Kickoffs: Leipzig crisis deepens, Stuttgart draw, Freiburg snap skid
Other Eintracht FrankfurturtToppmöller calls for less ball tricks from Ekitiké: "Not blowing our minds."
Post-match reaction Holstein KielArp rues missed penalty: "Sorry to the team and the fans for spoiling everything."
Post-match reaction FC St. Pauli Blessin "overjoyed" as St. Pauli finally secure first home win
Preview Borussia Dortmund, Bayern MünchenBorussia Dortmund vs Bayern München preview: Bayern mettle tested in Der Klassiker
Preview Werder Bremen, VfB StuttgartWerder Bremen vs VfB Stuttgart preview: Top six ambitions on show
Preview Augsburg, BochumAugsburg vs Bochum preview: Huge bottom-half clash
Other VfL BochumHecking confirms more misconduct from Baldé, provides update on Bernardo's return
Other Borussia MönchengladbachGladbach confirm injury setback for Neuhaus
Team of the week BundesligaBundesliga Team of the Week: Matchday 11
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 11First-half flurry guides Gladbach past toothless St. Pauli
Post-match reaction FSV Mainz 05Da Costa praises Bell's defensive direction: "He leads us for the full 90 minutes."
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 11Mainz easily dispatch harmless Kiel, move up to seventh place
Post-match reaction Eintracht FrankfurtGötze reflects on Frankfurt role: "I feel like the grandpa here."
Post-match reaction 1. FC HeidenheimSchmidt cites Pieringer injury as reason for loss
Other Wolfsburg & DFBBaku takes the SEAL path: "Discipline is the bridge between goals and their realization."

German Teams in Europe

Post-match reaction 1. FC HeidenheimSchmidt on team's performance against Chelsea: "I can accept defeats like this."
Match report Europa League Ilzer's Hoffenheim fall back down to earth with desolate showing in Portugal
Match report Europa LeagueEintracht extend winning streak to six with Europa League win in Denmark
Match report Conference LeagueSancho and Nkunku shine on "God save the King" night in Heidenheim
Other Europa LeagueConfirmed Lineups: Frankfurt vs. Midtjylland
Other Conference LeagueConfirmed Lineups: Heidenheim vs. Chelsea
Post-match reaction Stuttgart & DortmundStuttgart and Dortmund issue statement on away-fan treatment: "Disproportionate and degrading!"
Post-match reaction VfB Stuttgart Hoeness analyzes loss in Belgrade: "It wasn't a good performance from us"
Match report Borussia Dortmund Dortmund cruise to victory over Dinamo in the Croatian capital
VfB Stuttgart Serbian champs humble Stuttgart in Belgrade
Preview UEFA Champions LeagueConfirmed lineups: Dinamo Zagreb vs. Borussia Dortmund
Other VfB StuttgartStuttgart confirm border skirmish involving ultras
Preview TSG HoffenheimBraga vs. Hoffenheim preview: Team news and predicted lineups
Preview FC HeidenheimFC Heidenheim vs. Chelsea preview: Team news and predicted lineups
Preview Eintracht FrankfurtMidtjylland vs. Eintracht Frankfurt preview: Team news and predicted lineups
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenWirtz reflects on brace: "I had an abnormal amount of space"
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenGranit Xhaka: "We made it easy for ourselves"
Post-match reaction FC BayernVincent Kompany: "We could have scored 1-2 more goals"
Match report Bayer 04 LeverkusenWirtz wonderful as five-star Leverkusen crush Salzburg
Match report FC BayernBayern overpower 10-man PSG
RB LeipzigInter defeat stretches Leipzig's winless run to five games
RB Leipzig Confirmed lineups: Inter vs. RB Leipzig
Match report UEFA Champions LeagueConfirmed lineups: Bayer Leverkusen vs. RB Salzburg
Champions LeagueConfirmed lineups: Bayern Munich vs. PSG
Borussia DortmundReport: Dortmund to rest Guirassy against Dinamo Zagreb

DFB-Pokal

VfB StuttgartBredlow set for rare Stuttgart start
Leverkusen & BayernXabi Alonso explains why Kane's absence is not just an advantage for Leverkusen
Preview Bayern & LeverkusenBayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen preview: Team news and predicted lineups
FC BayernKompany gives fresh update on Kane injury, discusses possible replacements
Other Bayern & LeverkusenOfficial: Kane out for cup showdown with Leverkusen
Other RB LeipzigLeipzig confirm investigation into alleged Nazi salute in stadium
Other DFB PokalDFB-Pokal draw: Kane receives direct crack at Leverkusen, Leipzig host Frankfurt, Kohfeldt heads back to Bremen
Post-match reaction TSG 1899 HoffenheimTSG praise summer signings Chaves and Tabakovic after win: "We've stabilized."
Other Eintracht FrankfurtDFB confirms two-match cup suspension for Theate
Eintracht FrankfurtMarmoush opens up about spectacular mask celebration
Mainz & Bayern"The referee was wearing a Bayern shirt" – Mainz defender slams officiating after DFB-Pokal defeat
Match report DFB-Pokal20:45 Pokal Kickoffs: Musiala minces Mainz, Bielefeld knock out Union, Hoffenheim advance
Match report DfB PokalDucksch breaks Paderborn hearts as Bremen secure last-16 berth
Match report DfB PokalHertha Berlin spring upset as Heidenheim's Pokal dreams end in controversy
Match report DfB PokalFreiburg's first-half surge sees off HSV
Match report DfB PokalMarmoush the joker as 10-man Frankfurt eliminate Gladbach
Mainz & BayernNadiem Amiri: "You definitely have respect for Bayern again"
Post-match reaction FC AugsburgDahmen after successful 2024/25 debut: "I showed the coach he can count on me."
Post-match reaction VfB StuttgartFührich comments on 2024/25 form: "I haven't met my standards."
Post-match reaction RB LeipzigBaumgartner on Leipzig success despite injuries: "All this crap has brought us closer together."
Match report DFB POKALWind's late winner secures Wolfsburg win vs Dortmund
Match report DFB POKALStuttgart see off Kaiserslautern, Köln ease past Kiel and Regensburg survive red card
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenRolfes critical of Leverkusen's performance despite 3-0 win
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenAleix Garcia eager for more minutes after scoring in the cup
Preview Eintracht & GladbachEintracht Frankfurt vs. Gladbach preview: Team news and predicted lineups

German National Team

Other Wolfsburg & DFBBaku takes the SEAL path: "Discipline is the bridge between goals and their realization."
Post-match reaction Dortmund & DFBBrandt credits DFB training work for set-piece stunner
DFBUEFA Nations League knockout stage and play-off draw: Germany learn opponents
Werder Bremen & DFBZetterer confirms contact with the German Football Association
Rumor DFBReport: DFB in talks with Nagelsmann over new contract
DFBCeltic star reveals dream of playing for Germany at the World Cup in 2026
DFBMusiala and Nagelsmann bemoan Wirtz's "stupid" yellow-card suspension
Post-match reaction DFBNagelsmann after Hungary draw: "I don't want to talk about the game"
Opinion DFBGermany player ratings against Hungary
Post-match reaction DFB Andrich after Hungary penalty draw: "Where should his hand go?"
Match report DFBGermany U21s conclude undefeated calendar year with draw in France
DFBConfirmed lineups: Hungary vs. Germany
DFBNagelsmann hints at starting spot for "world-class" Sané
DFBNagelsmann confirms plan to rotate heavily against Hungary
Preview DFBHungary vs. Germany preview: Team news and predicted lineups
Post-match reaction DFBNagelsmann and Kleindienst delighted after Bosnia-Herzegovina win
Post-match reaction DFBMusiala reacts to Germany's thumping of Bosnia-Herzegovina: "That was fun!"
Opinion DFBGermany player ratings against Bosnia-Herzegovina
Match report DFBUnstoppable Germany roll over Bosnia-Herzegovina to seal top spot
DFB Confirmed lineups: Germany vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina
Match report DFBGermany U21s now unbeaten in 12 after victory over Denmark in test fixture
DFBNagelsmann gives update on Wirtz and confirms goalkeeping decision
DFBKleindienst blown away by 'Wusiala': "Sometimes I don't think I'm a fantastic footballer"
DFBStiller ruled out of Germany's games against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Hungary
DFBWirtz and Stiller still missing from Germany training

Long reads

Editor's pick TSG HOFFENHEIMChristian Ilzer: A deep dive into Hoffenheim's likely next coach
Editor's pick FC BAYERNThe secrets behind Vincent Kompany's brilliant start as Bayern Munich's head coach
Analysis/Commentary Werder BremenThe world’s worst restart: Naby Keïta’s disastrous one-year spell at Werder Bremen
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 3
Analysis/Commentary VfL Bochum‘The Unrelegatables’: How Peter Zeidler’s tactics can secure VfL Bochum’s Bundesliga status
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against the Netherlands
Analysis/Commentary SC FreiburgSC Freiburg analysis – Perfect response and jubilant mood on opening day
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga Matchday 1"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 1 (New transfers edition)
Analysis/Commentary FantasyFantasy Bundesliga: A guide to the new rules for the 2024/25 season
Analysis/Commentary Bayer 04 LeverkusenHow Bayer Leverkusen could line up for the 2024/25 season
Analysis/Commentary FC BayernHow Bayern could line up for the 2024/25 season
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against Denmark
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against Switzerland
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against Hungary
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against Scotland
Analysis/Commentary BundesligaShould the Bundesliga relegation/promotion tie be scrapped?
Analysis/Commentary BundesligaBundesliga Team of the Season
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga "Tactics Talk"Bundesliga Tactics Talk: Round 34
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga Matchday 34"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 34
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga "Tactics Talk"Bundesliga Tactics Talk: Round 33
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 33
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga "Tactics Talk"Bundesliga Tactics Talk: Round 32
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 32
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga "Tactics Talk"Bundesliga Tactics Talk: Round 31
Analysis/Commentary BayernBayern Munich player ratings against Real Madrid

Exclusive interviews

Interview BundesligaEXCLUSIVE: Michael Owen talks Kane, Musiala, Sancho and looks back on famous hat-trick against Germany
Editor's pick Bundesliga & DFBEXCLUSIVE: Dietmar Hamann on the Bundesliga title fight, Der Klassiker and Nagelsmann's start as Germany coach
Editor's pick MainzEXCLUSIVE: Danny da Costa rules out future coaching job
Interview Bayer LeverkusenEXCLUSIVE: Edmond Tapsoba on England links, his role models and Leverkusen's struggles this season
Interview Bundesliga InterviewEXCLUSIVE: From infancy to Eisernen - An Interview with Union Berlin’s rising star Laurenz Dehl
Editor's pick LeverkusenSimon Rolfes interview – part two: Leverkusen boss points out "problem" with German youth development
Editor's pick LeverkusenFernando Carro interview: Bayer Leverkusen CEO says Bundesliga rights are “sold under value”, questions 50+1 rule
Editor's pick Bayer 04 LeverkusenSimon Rolfes interview: Leverkusen boss on global scouting, Frimpong’s “fantastic” rise and more
Editor's pick WolfsburgEXCLUSIVE: Jonas Wind on Wolfsburg's poor start, Niko Kovac, his dream club and more
Editor's pick EXCLUSIVE: Wolfsburg's Jonas Wind gives injury update, shares thoughts on ...
Editor's pick DortmundEXCLUSIVE: Ex-BVB star and agent Niclas Jensen on life on and off the pitch and why Bielefeld's Bello is one to watch
Editor's pick GladbachEXCLUSIVE: Gladbach's Joe Scally on first United States call-up and World Cup chances
Editor's pick GladbachEXCLUSIVE: Gladbach and USMNT defender Joe Scally on his rise to stardom and season so far

Team News

DFB Pokal - FC Bayern - Leverkusen