Goaltoberfest star battle: Magic Musiala vs. Wonderkid Wirtz
In-form Bundesliga stars and Germany teammates Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz have produced many wonderful moments in recent seasons. On Matchday 5, they will have another opportunity to do so as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich face defending champions Bayer Leverkusen. bundesliga.com assesses who might come out on top...
At the age of 21, Musiala has already become arguably the most important player for club and country. It is a real testament to his potential and what he has shown so far. The same applies to Wirtz. Like Musiala, he has made himself indispensible for club and country over the past year or so. With four goals and one assist, he comes into Matchday 5 in prime form. Musiala is not too far off with three goals scored of his own.
Magic Musiala
Musiala's importance to Bayern is evidenced first and foremost by the fact that he has started all four Bundesliga games this season. In their most recent tie against Werder Bremen, Musiala fired off eight shots on goal - a Bundesliga record. Furthermore, his tally of three goals so far, the third of which he scored against Bremen, is only bettered by Harry Kane, who has five goals and four assists to his name.
The England international has benefitted hugely from Musiala's movement between the lines. The man himself, meanwhile, has been getting plenty of high quality chances as shown by his Expected Goals (xG) tally of 3.1, which is the fourth highest in the league and only just behind Kane for that metric.
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All three of Musiala's goals so far this season have come in the first half of games, including one as early as 15 seconds after kick-off against Holstein Kiel. Such incredible feats make Musiala a serious finisher, but he's also an all-round midfield catalyst.
Thanks to his outstanding technique and ability in tight spaces, Musiala can hold his own even under severe pressure from opposition markers. His understanding of football and spaces on the pitch is at the highest level. Able to hurt defences with both feet and find his teammates with his astonishing creativity, Musiala is a coach's dream. A quick look at his numbers tell us that he's not just an offensive hub. He has contested the most duels so far this season at Bayern (86) and boasts a superb 54 percent win rate.
Watch: Jamal Musiala's goal after 15 seconds against Holstein Kiel!
Wirtz indispensable at Bayer
When you consider Wirtz's importance to Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen, it is not that far off from Musiala's at Bayern. Just like the Bavarian star, 21-year-old Wirtz has started every game this term. In that time, he has been busy hurting opposition defences with goals and assists, five to his name so far. A brace against Borussia Mönchengladbach was followed up by goals against Hoffenheim, as well as Wolfsburg most recently.
The Pulheim native has already been involved in a total of 32 shots, which is a Bundesliga best. This points to his importance to Alonso's Leverkusen but also active involvement in creating shots for himself as well as his teammates. His xG tally of 3.3 is the second highest in the league, coupled with a finishing efficiency of +0.7, for which he is second amongst Leverkusen players. Highly encouraging numbers from a potential future Ballon d'Or winner.
Bayer Leverkusen's most dramatic last gasp-goals
Wirtz's abilities make him a dual threat as a finisher and initiator. He is one of the top 10 players in the Bundesliga who combine goal threat with efficiency as well as being in the top 10 for players who time and again create quality goal-scoring opportunities for their teammates. Moreover, Wirtz is also an extremely active player off the ball, clocking an average of 7.51 miles (12.1 km) distance run per game - a team-leading figure at Leverkusen.
Furthermore, he has also averaged 39 sprints per 90 minutes and reached a top speed of 20.94 mph (33.7 km/h). As a midfielder who loves engaging in dribbling duels, Wirtz has contested and won the most amongst Leverkusen players - 109 duels engaged in and 47 percent won.
Watch: The best of Florian Wirtz
A top game between title favourites
The two Germany internationals have made an excellent start to the new season and also impressed across the board in their opening games in the UEFA Champions League.
Now, attentions turn to the top fixture of the Oktoberfest period, Bayern have enjoyed a perfect start to their new chapter under Vincent Kompany, boasting a 100 percent record from four games. Defending champions Leverkusen are not that far behind, however, with just three points separating the two.
The stage is set for Saturday, when the league leaders welcome their direct rivals and title holders. During the Oktoberfest, Musiala and Co. will want to make a statement against the champions, while Wirtz and the the Factory XI will be determined to once again underline the balance of power from the previous season.
The biggest stage for the biggest of talents: 'GOALTOBERFEST' is calling!
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