2021 Bundesliga Team of the Year
Another year has passed and Bayern Munich's vice-like grip on the Bundesliga title remains unshakeable.
Die Roten are closing in on a tenth consecutive league win, so it will come as little surprise that their players dominate our Bundesliga team of 2021.
While this could have simply been a Bayern XI, there is still some representation from elsewhere - mainly to keep things interesting.
The German top flight is not known for its world-class defending in the modern era, so excuse us for going a bit Garth Crooks with our selections...
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
Manuel Neuer (GK) - Germany's number one has reasserted himself as the best goalkeeper on the planet in 2021. Capable of the spectacular, the Bayern captain has reinvented the role of the goalkeeper and is comfortably the most entertaining stopper on the planet.
Lukas Klostermann (CB) - Ever-reliable for RB Leipzig, and although Die Roten Bullen haven't shone this season, Klostermann formed part of the Bundesliga's stingiest backline in 2020/21.
Dayot Upamecano (CB) - Another member of that Leipzig backline, and now excelling at Bayern. Upamecano has been among Europe's best centre-backs in 2021.
Nico Schlotterbeck (CB) - Schlotterbeck has had a meteoric rise in 2021. Having shone on loan at Union Berlin in the second half of last season, the Freiburg player has arguably been the best defender in the Bundesliga this season. Shockingly, he is a target for Bayern.
2. Midfielders
Serge Gnabry (RM) - Gnabry is the most explosive wingers in the Bundesliga, and the scary thing is that it feels as though he has more gears to go to. He finishes the year with 15 league goals for Bayern.
Joshua Kimmich (CM) - Among the best midfielders on the planet when he's Covid-free. Another Bayern man, Kimmich maintains ridiculously high standards and made a flying start to 2021/22.
Jude Bellingham (CM) - What a year for Birmingham's finest. The dynamic England international has gone from strength to strength in 2021 and finds himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet as the year draws to a close. He already has nine assists in 2021/22.
Thomas Müller (AM) - The timeless Bayern Munich favourite has reinvented himself as an attacking midfielder. The 32-year-old has provided an obscene 30 assists in the league in 2021.
Leroy Sané (LM) - While his debut season back in the Bundesliga was widely considered to be underwhelming, his calendar year has been anything but. Sané looks back to his flying best with 14 goals and 17 assists in the league in the past 12 months.
3. Forwards
Robert Lewandowski (ST) - What is there left to write about Lewandowski? The Pole's imperious goalscoring form continued this year and he finishes 2021 with 43 Bundesliga strikes to his name. Forty-three. The best striker in the world, bar none.
Erling Haaland (ST) - Another goalscoring phenomenon who seems certain to inherit Lewandowski's title in the future. Borussia Dortmund's Haaland has been extraordinary since January, and almost always seems to score his goals in pairs - leading to a total of 30 for the year.