League Focus: Bundesliga’s Top Creators

Over the last decade, the Bundesliga has been a perfect platform for the ever-changing world of football tactics. In the more pragmatic days of German football, 4-5-1 was very popular and under the likes of Ottmar Hitzfeld, German clubs dominated on the continental stage using the ‘traditional’ 4-4-2 method.

But in last few years, the latest tactical change has taken the league by storm with 4-2-3-1 now a common feature across Germany.

Some have described it as the “Barcelonaization” of football but in fairness to those who use it in Germany, there are a number of variations. For example, Borussia Dortmund are one of the most expansive sides in the division whereas Bayer Leverkusen are a lot more solid in midfield, yet still as ruthless in front of goal.

But overall, the 4-2-3-1 allows teams to accommodate a number of attacking-midfielders and it is no surprise to see a number of players from that position leading the assists chart this season.

The number one contributor to goals in the Bundesliga is FC Bayern’s French international Franck Ribery with 10 assists this season. The 28-year-old commanded a massive fee of £25m from Marseille and has struggled at the Allianz Arena to match the price tag of the French giants. However, this season Ribery has been in fantastic form with some superb performances in the Bundesliga.

His WhoScored rating is 7.86 with five ‘Man of the Match’ awards in the league and 11 league goals to his name. Ribery has a pass completion ratio of 85.2% from 1196 attempts and completes, on average, 49.8 per match. The Frenchman’s dribbling ability is well-noted from the left-hand side of FC Bayern’s attack with 4.3 dribbles per match.

Sticking with left-sided players, Borussia Monchengladbach’s Juan Arango has nine assists this season and has been a star performer for The Foals in their chase for the league championship. He has three ‘Man of the Match’ awards this term and a WhoScored rating of 7.47.

In 2011, Arango was voted the greatest Venezuelan footballer of all time and has been in superb form for Gladbach. His pass completion ratio is 70.8% from 1296 attempts with 2.4 key passes per match. The majority of Arango’s five goals this season have been ones to savour, with the midfielder offering a superb set-piece threat as well as a terrific long-range shot.

Another South American who is increasing his stake in the German Bundesliga is 33-year-old Peruvian international Claudio Pizarro of Werder Bremen. Pizarro is mainly noted for his incredible goal tally of 16 strikes in 21 matches but he has also contributed to the overall team game with seven assists this season.

The striker didn’t create the best reputation in the Premier League but is a firm fans’ favourite with the Bremen faithful and is of huge importance to Thomas Schaaf’s side. It is no surprise that his tally is 16 goals for the season, with an average of 3.1 shots per match and two key passes every game. Pizarro has four ‘Man of the Match’ awards and has a WhoScored rating of 7.71 from his league matches.

In fourth in the assists chart is Borussia Dortmund’s Polish winger Jakub Blaszczykowski who has mainly been a squad player for the champions this season until Mario Gotze’s recent injury in the ruckrunde. The 26-year-old has made 14 starts for Jurgen Klopp’s side, who are on the verge of making it two league championships in a row at the Westfalen.

Blaszczykowski, or Kuba as he is known, has got seven assists and three goals to his name this season, helping his WhoScored rating to reach 7.19. In the last match of the hinrunde and the first two of the ruckrunde, he has notched up three assists, two goals and a ‘Man of the Match’ award.

The Polish star will captain his country at the European Championships this summer and he brings a good turn of pace and excellent dribbling ability. His pass completion ratio is 78.5% and he completes two key passes per match on average, as well as 1.4 crosses a game.

A surprising name in the top-five is Austrian left-back Christian Fuchs of Schalke 04, and the 25-year-old could be regarded as one of the best full-backs in Europe at the moment. His terrific energy levels and strong left-foot have helped him secure six assists this season, two goals and a WhoScored rating of 7.2 from 24 matches.

Based on his performances this season, Fuchs is very well-suited to Schalke’s expansive game with a high quality of crossing – an average of 1.5 per game – and excellent distribution of the ball from the back. He has a pass completion ratio of 76% from 1149 attempts and completes 1.8 key passes per match.

There are a number of players in the league with six assists this season, with the likes of Gokhan Tore, Patrick Herrmann, Toni Kroos and Robert Lewandowski almost certainly set to increase their assist record by the end of the campaign.