Bundesliga 2023 is drawing to a close folks and, as the tears flow in Dortmund following BVB’s heartbreaking fall at the final hurdle, the celebrations are underway in Munich once again.
Bayern Munich won a record 11th consecutive title against the Bundesliga 2023 betting odds because Borussia Dortmund choked in front of their own fans, as they failed to beat Mainz, who arrived on the back of four consecutive defeats. Meanwhile, Bayern did the business in Cologne, with Jamal Musiala winning the title in the 89th minute.
It was an incredible climax to a fantastic campaign in which some newer names emerged as heroes alongside the biggest stars. The departure of Robert Lewandowski to Spain and Erling Haaland to England left an opportunity for some lesser known players to make their names in pursuit of the Golden Boot.
So, in the aftermath of triumph in Munich and disaster in Dortmund, the SBOTOP team has taken a look at some of the players who have had a better campaign than they dared to hope for.
Niclas Fullkrug – Werder Bremen
In Werder Bremen’s first campaign back in the top-flight, they have secured survival narrowly and will play among the elite again next term. And they owe much of their success to experienced striker Niclas Fullkrug.
The 30-year-old forward scored 19 goals in 2021/22 to lead Werder to promotion and he’s taken the step up to the top-flight impressively.
With one week to go, he is joint top of the Bundesliga scoring charts alongside RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku on 16 goals, and his exploits this season earned him international recognition at the Qatar World Cup as the oldest player to make his Germany debut in 20 years.
Fullkrug scored a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Spain, and he has bagged six goals in six internationals. At 6’2”, he is a natural alternative to Bayern’s Thomas Muller and the Werder man fully deserves his late recognition.
Vincenzo Grifo – SC Freiburg
With 15 goals to his name, Freiburg’s striker Vincenzo Grifo is still in with a shout of winning the Golden Boot, and he too has won international recognition with Italy.
And like Fullkrug, he’s 30 years of age. An intelligent, creative midfielder, Grifo has played at Hoffenheim and with Borussia Monchengladbach, but he is at his happiest in Freiburg.
A free-kick expert, he has also scored four goals in nine appearances for the Azzurri, and he has consistently top scored for Freiburg. But this is his best season to date, and he is now the highest-scoring Italian in Bundesliga history, surpassing Luca Toni’s 38 goals for Bayern Munich.
SC Freiburg missed out on a top four place, recently slipping up in a match with RB Leipzig. But they have qualified for the Europa League, and Grifo is ready to shine again on the European stage.
Sheraldo Becker – Union Berlin
One of the big Bundesliga 2023 news stories has been the performance of Union Berlin and the club’s Champions League qualification, finishing the season above Freiburg in fourth place.
And with 11 goals and seven assists, winger Sheraldo Becker has had a fine campaign. The Suriname star signed for Union Berlin in 2019 when they reached the Bundesliga and now, aged 28, he is in the prime of his career.
Becker made an explosive start to the 2022/23 campaign, scoring four goals and making two assists in four matches in August, winning him the Bundesliga Player of the Month award. That set the tone for his and Berlin’s season and, as the wins kept on coming, his pace, vision, and delivery attracted the attention of teams around Europe.
Becker was linked with a January move to Everton, but he stayed loyal to Union and has been rewarded with Champions League football.
He was involved in three of Die Eisernen’s goals in a crucial 4-1 win over Freiburg on matchday 33, and that confirmed Becker’s status as a fan-favourite in Berlin.
Manuel Riemann – VfL Bochum
2021 new boys Bochum have survived again by finishing in 14th place, and they owe much of their successful campaign to experienced keeper Manuel Riemann. Even though his team conceded more than any other (72), the Bochum stopper has saved 134 shots, more than any other Bundesliga keeper.
As the club’s vice captain and a stalwart at Bochum since 2015 and at 34 years of age, he has a few seasons left in him, and he finished this campaign with a clean sheet as Der Blau secured their safety with a 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
