Florian Wirtz and Granit Xhaka were pivotal in Bayer Leverkusen’s remarkable Bundesliga performance last season, while Xavi and Loïs Openda have been game-changers for RB Leipzig.

Xhaka was crucial to Leverkusen’s success in his first season back in Germany following his time at Arsenal. Last season, no player had more touches in the Bundesliga (3,588, an average of 114 per 90 minutes) than him, and only two players in the league covered more ground (231.1 miles). He also made the most passes (3,240) and had a completion percentage of 93%, ranking among the best.

German Florian Wirtz was named the 2023/24 Bundesliga Player of the Year, summing up his performance for Leverkusen last season. He scored 11 goals in 32 league games, second only to team Victor Boniface, and had as many assists. Wirtz broke record with his hat-trick in the 5-0 victory against Werder Bremen on Matchday 29 last season to secure the league title, becoming the third-youngest Bundesliga hat-trick scorer and the youngest to do it coming off the bench.

RB Leipzig is one of the finest teams in transition in the Bundesliga, thanks to their attacking duo Xavi Simons and Loïs Openda, with a combined 26 goals in the opening 16 league games last season. Leipzig scored seven league goals on the counter-attack in the 23/24 campaign, thanks to their ability to break down opponents’ advances before charging towards goal at breakneck speed, putting them behind only Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen (8 goals each) in the German top flight.

Watch: Xhaka-Wirtz vs. Xavi-Openda partnerships

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