The Bundesliga returned with plenty of close contests - ironically, apart from the season opener - as fans got to grips with new players for the first time competitively.

But who were the players to stand out above the rest? Here's who we, at VAVEL, thought went and above and beyond the others.

Goalkeeper and defence

GK - Oliver Baumann (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim/1) - He might have done better to keep out Leipzig's first goal, but the fact it took them 58 minutes to score in the first place was largely due to Hoffenheim's 'keeper. Five impressive saves in the first half made him the standout stopper of the weekend.

RB - Felix Passlack (Borussia Dortmund/1) - Passlack has been somewhat forgotten about after Christian Pulisic's rapid rise to fame, but the German starlet showed just why he is so highly thought of at the weekend. The versatile youngster put in a very competent performance at the weekend, contributing well to both attack and defence.

CB - Javi Martinez (Bayern Munich/1) - Bayern fans need not be worried about Jerome Boateng's absence if Martinez maintains this level. The Spaniard was imperious at the back and, if he can stay injury free, the Bavarians will have an embarrassment of riches at centre-half this season.

CB - David Abraham (Eintracht Frankfurt/1) - Schalke were poor on Saturday and had little in the way of clear-cut chances, but that was mainly down to Abraham's defensive work. Even when Michael Hector was sent off, he remained unfazed and showed that he can step up in the wake of Carlos Zambrano's departure.

LB - Ricardo Rodriguez (VfL Wolfsburg/1) - Rodriguez's summer has been filled with transfer rumours and reminders he wasn't at his usual standard last season, but he quickly got back on track this season. A solid display in both defence and attack was capped off with an 89th-minute free-kick.

Lewandowski celebrates. | Image source: kicker - Getty Images
Lewandowski celebrates. | Image source: kicker - Getty Images

Midfield and attack

RM - André Schürrle (Borussia Dortmund/1) - Eyebrows were raised when BVB broke their transfer record to bring in Schürrle, but Saturday showed why they did. He was in fine form against his former club, and set-up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's first goal with a superb cross. With Jonas Lössl in fine form, he was unlucky not to score himself.

CM - Xabi Alonso (Bayern Munich/1) - He didn't have much defending to, but Alonso opened the floodgates against Werder Bremen with a piledriver of a strike, the type of goals he always seems to score. Even at the age of 34, he remains a vital clog in the Bayern machine.

CM - Vladimir Darida (Hertha BSC/1) - Everyone's favourite underrated Bundesliga midfielder had his admirers purring again after another good display at the heart of Hertha's midfield. Aside from running the legs off everyone else in the middle, Darida also popped up with a well-taken goal to help his side to three important points.

LM - Leonardo Bittencourt (1. FC Köln/1) - Bittencourt got his and the Billy Goats' season off to a flyer at the weekend, and was a total menace to a shell-shocked Darmstadt defence. His runs were never picked up on or stopped, and a fine piece of individual skill set up Marcel Risse's opener.

CF - Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich/1) - Robert Lewandowski just did what Robert Lewandowski does. One Bundesliga game, one hat-trick. An impressive finish from a tight angle from the left, a volley in from Thomas Müller's cross and a straightforward penalty. Sure Bremen weren't great, but you still have to score the goals.

CF - André Hahn (Borussia Mönchengladbach/1) - The Gladbach forward's pace proved to be a constant through in Bayer Leverkusen's side, and he also took his goal superbly well after finishing low past Bernd Leno. He could have had more, had it not been for Leno's heroics in goal. His rise shows no signs of slowing.

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About the author
Jonathan Walsh
SoccerSight IFA commentator. VAVEL deputy editor-in-chief/VAVEL Bundesliga editor-in-chief and writer. Email: [email protected]