Paco Alcácer, the striker who is too good as a substitute to start games
No one has scored more goals in the Bundesliga this season than Paco Alcácer, even though he has started just two games
By Martin Laurence for WhoScored
The top of the Bundesliga table has been transformed since the final day of last season. Bayern Munich ended the campaign – and Jupp Heynckes ended his managerial career – with a surprising 4-1 home defeat to Stuttgart, yet they still finished a massive 21 points clear at the top as they won their sixth successive league title. Bayern are now down in fourth, a full nine points behind current leaders Borussia Dortmund.
Dortmund have come a long way since that day in May, when they nearly blew their chances of playing in the Champions League this season. When Pavel Kaderabek put Hoffenheim 3-1 up against Dortmund with just over 15 minutes remaining on the final day, Dortmund’s goal difference was just one better than that of Bayer Leverkusen – who were directly below them in the table, level on 55 points each, with a 3-0 lead over Hannover at the time. Had Leverkusen found another goal they could have leapt over Dortmund and into the final Champions League spot, but two late goals from Hannover – in the 94th and the 96th minute – eased Dortmund into fourth.