As August gives way to September it is time to hand out the first Bundesliga Fanatic Player and Goal of the Month awards. With four matchdays to cast an eye over, there was no shortage of deserving candidates in both categories. So who caught the eye the most in August?
Player of the Month: Sheraldo Becker (Union Berlin)
A quick look at the Bundesliga table after four games sees Bayern Munich unsurprisingly at the top, but what does cause a second glance is the team level on points with the Rekordmeister- Union Berlin. Three wins (Hertha, Leipzig, and Schalke) and a draw with Mainz has given Urs Fischer’s side a great start.
Instrumental in that start has been forward Sheraldo Becker, who has brought the top form shown at the end of last season and just carried it forward to the start of this one. A goal and an assist in the opener helped dispose of city rivals Hertha before a quieter game on matchday 2. A week later and normal service was resumed with a goal and an assist (again for strike partner Jordan Pefok) in the 2-1 win over RB Leipzig.
Last week brought the club’s joint record Bundesliga win (6-1) and Becker was once again key with two goals, bringing him to four goals and two assists in four games. He has hit it off instantly with new signing Jordan Pefok and Union’s counterattack with those two at pace has caused numerous problems for defences thus far.
Honourable mentions:
Jamal Musiala had a fantastic first two games, but then missed the next two through injury, otherwise he looked on course to be August’s hands down winner. Teammate Joshua Kimmich has stood out with his consistently top-class performances, while Kingsley Coman has also been excellent.
Ko Itakura has impressed at Mönchengladbach, while Randal Kolo Muani is quickly gaining admirers at Frankfurt with his performances and goals.
Goal of the Month: Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
After the enjoyable task of rewatching four weeks of Bundesliga goals, it was Gladbach’s Ramy Bensebaini who scoops the first the Goal of the Month award of the season for his matchday 1 goal against Hoffenheim.
After Jonas Hofmann delivered a corner to the far post from the right, Ko Itakura rose to head back into the six-yard area. Rising majestically, left back Ramy Bensebaini fired in an overhead kick that would have made many a striker jealous of his technique.
The Goal of the Month award shouldn’t need too many words, watching should suffice.
Honourable mentions:
There was no shortage of contenders for the award and there were numerous other worthy recipients you may prefer over ours. Jamal Musiala’s goal against VfL Wolfsburg on matchday 2 showed strength, calmness, and a cool finish. If Kevin Stöger meant it as a shot, then his goal against Mainz was a classic. Sven Michel’s second goal against Schalke on matchday 4 was superbly taken having spotted the keeper out position. Earlier in the same game Janik Haberer fired in a rocket, which left Fredrik Rönnow no chance.
Ermedin Demirovic’s flicked finish was impressive versus Mainz on matchday 3, as was Christoph Baumgartner’s backheel against Leverkusen and Georginio Rutter’s rifled finish on the same day. Leroy Sané was also a contender for the opener against Bochum that opened the floodgates for the 7-0.
Who would have got your vote for Player and Goal of the Month?
