In Focus: Five Bundesliga stars of the season

The Bundesliga threw up plenty of surprises this season as experienced talents and hot prospects combined to make it a campaign to remember.

Bayern Munich clinched their 10th consecutive league title, while unfancied Union Berlin and Freiburg upset the odds to qualify for Europe.

A breeding ground for some of the brightest stars on the continent, we have picked out five of the best players in Germany’s top flight this term.

Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

Robert Lewandowski has been one of Europe’s most prolific strikers for the last decade — and he does not look like slowing down any time soon.

The Polish striker’s 35 league goals saw him finish as the Bundesliga’s top scorer for the seventh time, equalling Bayern icon Gerd Muller’s record.

It is the third consecutive campaign in which Lewandowski has netted at least 34 times, while he boasted a non-penalty xG of 30.86 — higher than bottom side Greuther Furth’s team as a whole (30.3).

The Bavarians’ talisman has scored the second-most goals in Bundesliga history with 312 strikes, behind only Muller (365). Yet Lewandowski may not eclipse the legendary German’s total.

Trouble appears to be brewing in paradise, with uncertainty over whether the 33-year-old will remain at the Allianz Arena next season.

Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)

One player who is rapidly becoming a household name is Bundesliga Player of the Season Christopher Nkunku.

The RB Leipzig forward has enjoyed a sensational campaign, boasting 51 goal contributions in 52 appearances across all competitions.

Nkunku, 24, was key to the Red Bulls’ surge up the table and won the league’s Player of the Month award four times — a single-season record.

The Frenchman was the first player in Germany’s top flight to reach double figures for both goals (20) and assists (13), and was rewarded with his maiden France call-up back in March.

Nkunku then capped off a stunning season with a goal in the DFB-Pokal final as Leipzig claimed the first piece of major silverware in their history.

Nico Schlotterbeck (Freiburg)

Nico Schlotterbeck emerged as one of the Bundesliga’s finest defenders this term in a Freiburg side that exceeded all expectations.

After a prosperous loan spell at Union Berlin last season, Schlotterbeck returned to the Breisgau Brazilians at the start of the campaign and has not looked back.

The Stuttgart native, 22, has developed into one of the most well-rounded centre-halves on the continent — winning the fourth-most tackles (43) in the Bundesliga and completing a commendable 190 passes into the final third.

He also earned his first caps for Germany in March as well as featuring in the Bundesliga Team of the Season.

After losing the DFB-Pokal final and just missing out on Champions League football, the 6ft 3in centre-back will hope to finally win a trophy next term as he makes the move to Borussia Dortmund this summer.

Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)

Joshua Kimmich has further enhanced his reputation as one of the best midfielders in Europe after enjoying a brilliant first season under Julian Nagelsmann’s tutelage.

The German was a key figure in the centre of the park for Bayern as they romped to yet another Bundesliga title.

Kimmich, 27, has adapted to Nagelsmann’s high-pressing system with ease, managing more successful pressures (177) than any other player in the FCB squad.

The 64-cap international has also had a growing impact on Bayern’s attacking play — making the most passes into the final third in the Bundesliga (581) as the Bavarians netted a league-high 97 goals.

Kimmich has become one of the first names on the team sheet at the Allianz Arena and is being touted as a future captain of the club.

Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)

Another midfielder who has had a stellar season is Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham.

The Englishman nailed down a starting berth in the engine room, becoming an integral cog in Marco Rose’s side.

Bellingham, 18, drew the most fouls (91) of any Bundesliga player across the campaign — and looks set to be a nuisance for defenders once again next term.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to next season. I can’t wait for it to finally start. But yes, I’ll be here next season, and I’ll be ready.

“I have my destiny in my own hands and know that I can develop further if I make an effort and trust the people around me.”