League Focus: Bundesliga Team of the Season

The Bundesliga came to a close last weekend (Final League Table), with Borussia Dortmund retaining their crown following an unbeaten streak of 28 league games, running until the end of the season. They beat Bayern to the title relatively comfortably in the end, with an 8-point gap at the top.

Undoubtedly the two main success stories saw Schalke and Gladbach catch the eye, with both ending up in Champions League qualification places after dismal domestic campaigns last time around. The same could not be said for relegated Kaiserslautern and Cologne, with Podolski seemingly jumping ship to England in the nick of time, while Hertha Berlin have a relegation play-off against Fortuna Dusseldorf in the offing.

It is no surprise to see the top 4 make up the entirety of our WhoScored Bundesliga Team of the Season, with all five of the XI from Germany making their way into Joachim Low's preliminary squad for Euro 2012.

We start in between the posts, and though there is little doubt that Manuel Neuer will be first choice come June, 20-year-old Gladbach keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen's performances will leave the international number one feeling a little less comfortable than he may have at the start of the campaign. A teenager up until last month, ter Stegen is one of only 3 players in the league to have played every minute for their side this season having cemented his place in the starting XI at the tail end of last season's relegation scrap.

He has kept 15 clean sheets this season - the second most in the league - and is a key component of a Gladbach side with a better defensive record than Champions Dortmund. Ter Stegen also boasts the record for the most high claims in the league (95), most accurate long balls (423) and third most saves from outside the box (52).

At right-back, few could argue with the inclusion of Dortmund's Lukas Piszczek who will be vital to Euro 2012 co-host Poland's chances of progression in the tournament. He has both the most goals (4) and assists (7 - joint with Christian Fuchs) of any out-and-out defender and has been instrumental down the right partnered by compatriot Jakub Blaszczykowski in the absence of Gotze.

On the opposite flank, Bayern captain Philipp Lahm's role cannot be underestimated having been at the start of almost every move. The left-back has made more passes than any other player in the Bundesliga (2370), making his accuracy of over 90% quite remarkable when also factoring in a hefty 8 long balls per game - the fourth most of any outfielder in the league.

Mats Hummels takes our first centre-back spot in a defence which is an extremely effective ball playing backline. The German international ranks third in the league for clean sheets as a defender (14) as well as second for both forward passes (928) and last man tackles (3). The only player to make more in the latter two regards, with 972 and 4 respectively, is Brazilian centre-half Dante, who partners Hummels in our XI. The Gladbach defender will make the switch to Bayern this summer having shone to pick up 15 clean sheets when starting and also complete the most accurate back zone passes in the division (1606).

The famous Robbery wing partnership at Bayern couldn't be separated here with Arjen Robben contributing the second most left footed goals this season (11 of 12 total) having started just 18 times due to injury. He has also added 5 assists and registered an average of 2.9 shots per game. While Franck Ribery has fewer shots on average (2.2), the Frenchman has a joint-league high of 12 assists as well as creating the most big chances in the league (16) and attempting and completing the most dribbles (129) to earn the second best WhoScored rating in the country.

In the centre, Bayern teammate Toni Kroos has proven not only to be an effective defensive force, with 1.9 tackles per game, but also an excellent creative playmaker, picking up 9 assists (the joint second most in the league). The youngster has also weighed in with 4 goals having had the most shots on target from outside the box (13) as well as completing the second most dead ball assists (4).

Shinji Kagawa makes up a youthful midfield pairing and Dortmund's 23-year-old Japanese international has drawn plenty of attention from further afield, with Manchester United heavily linked. It is easy to see why, with the attacking midfielder netting 13 times this season, as well as registering 8 assists from open play (the third most in the Bundesliga). Incredibly light on his feet, Kagawa has carved out 15 big chances for teammates, a figure only bettered by the aforementioned Ribery, as well as averaging 2 successful dribbles per game.

Up front, neither of the top two are represented despite having 22 and 26-goal Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gomez on their books respectively. There is, however, a place for top scorer Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, whose 29 strikes have hoisted Schalke from as low as 14th last season to 3rd this time around.

All of the Dutchman's goals have come from inside the box, epitomising the perfect poacher in the mould of fellow countryman Ruud van Nistelrooy. His 25 big chances scored and 18 right-footed goals both lead the way, while he has also netted 6 headers (the second most in the division) and registered the second most shots on target (53).

While Marco Reus has just 18 goals in comparison, a superb all-round game and magnificent figures have not only earned him a move to champions Dortmund next season, but also see him rank as our Bundesliga Player of the Season, with a rating of 7.9. Still just 22, Reus will surely come into strong consideration for a starting berth at the Euros having played both up front and out on the right this season, easily outperforming competitors for a place such as Thomas Muller.

The Gladbach talisman has 9 assists having completed the third most key passes (72), has picked up the most WhoScored Man of the Match awards (11), registered the most long range shots on target along with Kroos (13) and completed the most through balls (15). He ranks second in the league for total shots (105) but has also made 1.6 tackles, 1 cross and completed 2.9 dribbles per game in a remarkable season for the fourth-placed outfit.

What may be worrying for the rest of the league is that of the 4 players not playing at either Dortmund or Bayern this season two have already agreed moves to said clubs from Gladbach - Reus and Dante respectively. Whether the likes of Schalke and Gladbach will be able to keep up is unclear, but one thing is for certain that this XI would take some beating!