1. Hugo Ekitiké (Eintracht Frankfurt)
No Marmoush – no downside! It’s astonishing how Frankfurt time and again show that they’ve wonderful squad planning all through the entire squad. Some might have thoght that the switch of Omar Marmoush, Frankfurt’s finest participant in 2024/25 to date, may need a huge effect on the group – however one participant stepped as much as fill the hole Marmoush left behind.
Hugo Ekitiké already confirmed his qualities subsequent to Marmoush this season, however there was rightful doubt over his performances with out him – within the 2 video games with out Marmoush nonetheless, in opposition to Dortmund within the Bundesliga and Ferencváros within the Europa League, Ekitiké was in a position to shine as shiny as he did earlier than, scoring in every recreation and serving to his group to 2 consecutive 2-0 wins.
Frankfurt are enjoying Hoffenheim on matchday 19 of the Bundesliga, a struggling facet which is, at this second in time, combating in opposition to relegation. Hold a watch out for the French striker – he may simply develop into Frankfurt’s subsequent tremendous switch and generate the same charge to his former teammate Marmoush and his predecessor Kolo Muani.
2. Loïs Openda (RB Leipzig)
In fact it is simple to foretell strikers to have an impactful recreation – objectives are what issues and so they resolve the end result to the sport. Openda nonetheless didn’t randomly seem on this checklist: he’s the important thing motive for Leverkusen’s solely loss within the final 52(!) Bundesliga video games! Can he do it once more on matchday 19 of the Bundesliga?
Final time they met, Leipzig have been in a position to beat Leverkusen 3-2, with Openda scoring twice. Matter of reality, Openda loves scoring in opposition to Leverkusen: within the two video games earlier than mentioned match, Openda scored every time – however Leipzig misplaced each video games 2-3 (sure, that is proper: all 3 of the final 3 matches led to a 3-2 victory for one facet).
Openda missed the 3-3 draw in opposition to Bochum on matchday 18 due to a crimson card, which suggests he will likely be desperate to bounce again and present a very good efficiency. Whereas a participant of his high quality ought to at all times be watched carefully, that is your further recommendation to definetly accomplish that when Leipzig meet Leverkusen within the (subjectively talking) finest Bundesliga match of the week this Saturday.
3. Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund)
It isn’t a enjoyable time to be a Dortmund fan proper now. 4 losses in 4 video games in 2025, 11 objectives conceded, key gamers are leaving the group – and the supervisor simply received sacked, too. It is recreation 1 within the post-era of Nuri Şahin in Dortmund and this would be the second for an important gamers to step up.
A participant who may do precisely that’s Julian Brandt. The 48-times capped German worldwide was at all times supposed to steer this group, or at the least the attacking a part of the group, into the longer term, whereas additionally bettering individually. Nevertheless, Brandt appears to not have been in a position to observe these directions. This managerial change now may be what he must get again on monitor and discover his manner again into the class of ‘prime gamers within the Bundesliga’.
Dortmund are enjoying in opposition to Werder Bremen on matchday 19 – which satirically is the membership from Brandt’s dwelling city Bremen. Along with that, it is also a battle of two ‘table-neighbours’ with Bremen presently being ranked ninth and Dortmund tenth – and vital recreation for either side to getting nearer to their aim of reaching the European locations.
It is best to hold a watch out for the entire Dortmund XI and see which gamers are in a position to step up and lead the group – it seems like a ‘final probability’ part for gamers like Julian Brandt.
