The 2018/19 Bundesliga team of the season
Here's our 2018/19 Bundesliga team of the season.
Goalkeeper: Peter Gulacsi, RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig had the Bundesliga's best defensive record in the 2018/19 season, and Gulacsi had a huge hand in that accomplishment. The Hungarian international conceded less than one goal per game and made a total of 16 clean sheets. Always reliable and made lots of important saves.
Right-back: Joshua Kimmich, Bayern München
The German international had another outstanding season for Bayern München, playing every game for the champions with two goals and 14 assists to his name. Undoubtedly one of Bayern's key performers through the 2018/19 campaign.
Centre-back: Ibrahima Konaté, RB Leipzig
Ibrahima Konaté is only 19 years old, but when you watch him play, he seems like a player with a lot of experience under his belt. Big, fast, strong and always cool and composed, the young centre-back played a key role for RB Leipzig during the season.
Centre-back: Niklas Süle, Bayern München
Niklas Süle has been a rock at the back for Bayern this season and has stepped up to become their first-choice in central defence. The 23-year-old is not only physically strong; he's also quite good with the ball at his feet and one of the Bundesliga's fastest defenders. Additionally, Süle's also able to pop up with an important goal now and then.
Left-back: Nico Schulz, Hoffenheim
Schulz, who recently completed a move to Borussia Dortmund, has been one of the Hoffenheim's most consistent top performers over the last few seasons, impressing in a left wing-back role. With his incredible work-rate, physicality, dynamic playing style and many runs forward, Schulz is tough to play against for any opponent - both offensively and defensively.
Central midfielder: Thiago Alcantara, Bayern München
Thiago may not always generate the most attention, but it's hard to overestimate the Spanish midfield maestro's importance for Bayern München. Technically gifted and with an exceptional eye for his teammates, the 28-year-old always seeks the ball and pulls the strings in midfield. He very rarely makes mistakes and also took more defensive responsibility on his shoulders during the 2018/19 campaign that saw him score twice and make six assists.
Right midfielder: Jadon Sancho, Borussia Dortmund
Sancho broke through with a bang this season. After beginning the season as a substitute, the 19-year-old quickly emerged as a regular starter after impressing every time he was sent on the pitch. Sancho played at a consistent high level through the entire campaign and ended up scoring 12 goals and making 17 assists in 34 Bundesliga games.
Offensive midfielder: Kai Havertz, Bayer Leverkusen
What a season it has been for Kai Havertz! Playing in an offensive midfield position or as a winger, the youngster featured in every Bundesliga game for Leverkusen throughout the season, scoring 17 goals and making four assists. Despite being just 19 years old, Havertz isn't afraid to take responsibility, and he has arguably been Leverkusen's most important player this season. Havertz was recently voted player of the season in a poll by German newspaper Bild that more than 50.000 people took part in. Additionally, Sky pundit Lothar Matthäus recently waxed lyrical about the German international in a column in which he singled him out as his player of the season.
Offensive midfielder: Marco Reus, Borussia Dortmund
Reus was made Borussia Dortmund captain before the season and instatly embraced that role, leading his team forward through the campaign. At the end, Reus was unable to take BVB all the way to the title, but having scored 17 goals and made 11 assists in 27 Bundesliga games this season, he certainly deserves a spot in the team of the season nevertheless.
Left midfielder: Filip Kostic, Eintracht Frankfurt
The Serbian international had very convincing season in a wing-back role that meant he had more defensive responsiblity than he has been used to in the past - but that certainly didn't stop him from participating offensively. Kostic, who was particularly strong in the second half of the season, scored six goals and made 11 assists throughout the season - not bad at all!
Striker: Robert Lewandowski, Bayern München
The 30-year-old took home his fourth top scorer prize, scoring 22 Bundesliga goals during the 2018/19 campaign. Lewandowski may have had more remarkable seasons in the past, but his many goals certainly shouldn't be underestimated. It's worth mentioning that four of his goals came against Borussia Dortmund - two in each game - and he really lead the way for Bayern in the vital 5-0 win over BVB on April 6.
Coach: Friedhelm Funkel, Fortuna Düsseldorf
Before the season, many felt sure that Fortuna Düsseldorf would get relegated, but 'Die Flingeraner' took everyone by surprise after their promotion from the 2. Bundesliga, ending up 10th in the table - a sensational accomplishment by Fortuna coach Friedhelm Funkel and his team. As Lothar Matthäus recently wrote in a column for Sky: "They beat BVB, drew 3-3 in Munich and showed what can be achieved with team spirit and a coach that everyone is behind. Fantastic!"
Honorable mentions: Yann Sommer (Gladbach), Jerome Roussillon (Wolfsburg), Lukas Klostermann (RB Leipzig), Makoto Hasebe (Eintracht Frankfurt), Kerem Demirbay (Hoffenheim), Axel Witsel (Dortmund), Kingsley Coman (Bayern München), Serge Gnabry (Bayern München), Thorgan Hazard (Gladbach), Sebastien Haller (Eintracht Frankfurt), Luka Jovic (Eintracht Frankfurt).
Here's how our team looked after the first half of the season.