Bundesliga XI: the best of the 'Hinrunde'
The first 17 games of this Bundesliga season are over and teams are now heading off on their mid-season break. But before they go, DW's Jonathan Harding picks his best 11 players of the first half of the season.
Goalkeeper: Yann Sommer
Manuel Neuer is the world's best goalkeeper but in a league where he is rarely seen, let alone tested, Gladbach's Yann Sommer stood out between the posts for us. Stepping into the departing Marc-Andre ter Stegen's shoes was no easy task, but the Swiss keeper has been more than solid. Honorable mentions also go to Freiburg's Roman Bürki, Cologne's Timo Horn and Hannover's Ron-Robert Zieler.
Left back: Juan Bernat
Little was known of the Spanish left back when he arrived in Munich, but the small wingback from Valencia has just got better and better in Bayern colours. Under Pep Guardiola he has roamed up and down the left flank, providing a threat in attack and closing down heroically at times in defence. A remarkable development in just half a season.
Central defender: Niklas Süle
Sadly Hoffenheim's promising 19-year-old central defender suffered a ligament tear in the second to last matchday and looks set for a long spell on the sidelines. Beforehand though, Süle excelled in individual situations and in the air. He could play for Germany, but it depends on how he recovers from this injury.
Central defender: Naldo
Jerome Boateng has been pretty good so far this season for Bayern, but Wolfsburg's Naldo just edges it. The former Werder Bremen man has scored five goals this season, which is a bonus, but in his primary task as a defender he's marshalled and lead the backline towards a strong first half of the season. He deserves recognition.
Right back: Rahman Baba
We know, we know: Baba isn't a right back but the Ghanaian left back has been so good for Augsburg in 2014 that he just had to be in this team. Having made the move from Fürth, he's done so well that a number of English clubs are rumoured to be interested in the 20-year-old. Solid in all parts of his game, he has been a key part of Augsburg's remarkable first half of the season.
Left wing: Kevin de Bruyne
The Belgian has been in superb form for Wolfsburg this season and has already clocked 10 assists. De Bruyne finally looks like he is maturing as a player and, just as important, he finally seems to be settling in at a club. His passing and vision is formidable and is one of the main reasons Wolfsburg is sitting clear of the competition in second.
Defensive midfield: Xabi Alonso
When he arrived, many thought he was a stop-gap signing for the departing Toni Kroos - and a weaker one at that. Since then though, Xabi Alonso has been a pass master right from the start. Slotting into Pep Guardiola's system as if he himself designed it, Alonso has been the fulcrum to Bayern's stability. And he's done it all at 33 years of age.
Right wing: Karim Bellarabi
When Bellarabi returned from Braunschweig, few could have predicted that he would have been so successful. The winger has been in sparkling form, impressing so much that he went on to play for Joachim Löw's Germany in EURO 2016 qualifying. With quick feet and a blistering shot, this young man has some serious potential.
Central attacking midfielder: Arjen Robben
After an outstanding 2013 and a good World Cup, few predicted Robben would improve further. How wrong that proved to be. The Dutchman, clearly under better control of his body and fitness this campaign, has perhaps been the best Bundesliga player in the first half of this season. His tally of 10 goals and three assists in 13 league games speaks for itself.
Attacker: Alex Meier
13 goals in 16 games is quite some record. Then again, Alex Meier has done this before for Frankfurt. In the 2012/13 season, he finished with 16 goals in 31 games. With half the season done and that tally nearly reached, credit must go to Frankfurt's captain and the league's top goalscorer.
Attacker: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
For all the money spent in the summer, Choupo-Moting arriving on a free transfer from Mainz might have been the best business Schalke made. The Cameroonian has been an integral part of Schalke's attack, particularly in the injury-enforced absence of key striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. He's improving faster than Schalke at the moment, which is perhaps worrying for the club.
Coach: Andre Breitenreiter
Hard for anyone else to win this, apart from maybe Augsburg's Markus Weinzierl. This season is the first time Paderborn have ever been in the Bundesliga and with 19 points after 17 games, they've surprised everyone. Leading them is coach Andre Breitenreiter who has his side playing attacking, gutsy football. Paderborn's survival in the top flight would be the story of the season.