Bayern Munich stretched their lead at the top of the German Bundesliga to seven points this weekend but that doesn’t mean their star players outperformed the rest of the division.
Although Bayern were well represented in the Bundesliga team of the week, there were plenty of outstanding performances across the German top flight in matchday 18.
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To kick off the team of the week we should start with the heroic performance of Werder Bremen goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka (9.7) , who not only made nine saves during his team’s 4-1 victory over Hertha Berlin but also saved a penalty against Matheus Cunha when his side were only ahead by a single point.
At left-back we have Wolfsburg defender Paulo Octavio (8.6), who put in an exceptional performance up and down the left flank during his side’s impressive 1-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. On the other flank we have towering central defender Niklas Sule (7.3), who was asked to fill in at right-back in his side’s victory over Schalke and proved to be a remarkable threat in attack, as well as his usual stalwart defensive duties.
In the middle of defence we have Nico Elvedi (9.1), who helped his Gladbach side stun Borussia Dortmund on Friday night with two outstanding headers as his side picked up a dramatic 4-2 victory. Alongside the Foals defender is Moussa Niakhate (8.0), who also helped his Mainz side provide possibly the shock of the weekend with a 3-2 win over RB Leipzig with two goals to his name as well.
In midfield we can turn our attention to the best player in the division this weekend, Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich (10). From a central midfield position the German international completely dominated his side’s 4-0 victory over Schalke with no less than three assists.
Alongside Kimmich in midfield was Gladbach midfielder Florian Neuhaus (8.0), who provided two assists in his side’s victory over Dortmund, along with Wolfsburg midfielder Xaver Schlager (8.0), following his heroic defensive performance against Leverkusen.
Up front we have a fantastic array of attacking talent, as Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho (9.2) takes up his preferred role on the left wing. Although his side ultimately lost to Gladbach, that didn’t stop the England international from providing the assists for both of his team’s goals.
Sancho joins Eintracht Frankfurt striker Andre Silva (8.5) following his two goals in his side’s 5-1 annihilation of Arminia Bielefeld and Bayern star Thomas Muller (9.4), who picked up the third most impressive score of the weekend following his two goals and all-round performance against Schalke.
Leverkusen 
