Top 5 Bundesliga Centre Backs for Defensive Stats Combined

The third installment of a feature analyzing the best centre-backs from last season with regards to purely defensive statistics looks at the German Bundesliga's most dominant defenders.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the eventual league champions in Germany, Borussia Dortmund are represented in the league's top 5 by both their regular centre-backs. However, none of the remaining top 5 have players in the list with Nurnberg the next highest to figure. Representatives from FC Cologne and Borussia M.Gladbach complete the leader board.

Martin Stranzl
Experienced Gladbach centre-back Martin Stranzl tops the rankings with regards to defensive statistics combined. The 31-year-old Austria international only started 17 games last season but topped the 5 contenders in terms of interceptions made per game (3.53) as well as showing his maturity by not making any errors leading to shots or goals. His impressive all-round figures saw him rank in the top 3 for blocks per game, tackles per game, clearances per game and aerial duels won per game.

The area in which Stranzl fared worst was arguably his aerial duels lost per game, ranking 5th with 1.12, the only category in which he propped up his 4 contenders. Playing in a side which finished third from bottom in the league, Stranzl's figure of 0.65 blocks per game could have been better in order to help his side prevent the second worst defensive record in the league, shipping 65 goals.

Pedro Geromel
25-year-old Brazilian Pedro Geromel comes second in terms of his all-round defensive rating, helping FC Cologne secure a position in the realms of mid-table security. In 27 appearances last term Geromel topped the rankings in terms of blocks per game (0.96), clearances per game (6.15) as well as being the only other player, alongside Stranzl, not to make an error leading to a shot or goal. Arguably the centre-backs most impressive stats lay in his tackling having made the most in total of the 5 (91) as well as tackles per game (3.37).

An area of weakness to Geromel's game is in his aerial success. Despite filling a hefty 190cm frame, the Brazilian won just 16 aerial duels all season at a rate of 0.59 per game, the lowest of the 5 players analyzed. He also gave away the most fouls on the leader board, with his total of 37 averaging 1.37 per game.

Mats Hummels
The first of Dortmund's defensive pairing to make the list is 22-year-old German centre-back Mats Hummels. The young defender made more appearances than all of his competitors with 32 and a standout statistic saw him make a crucial 4 blocks inside the six-yard box over the season. Along with partner Subotic, Hummels proved very economical in terms of free kicks conceded at the back, giving away just 24 at a rate of 0.75 a match.

Due to Dortmund's dominance over the season Hummels was forced to make just 0.41 blocks per game, the fewest of the bunch, and all despite making 4 times the amount of six-yard blocks of his competitors. He also had the lowest rate of clearances per game but this can again be attributed to his side's league standing. Like Geromel, the German could improve his heading having lost 21 duels over the season, but this is balanced out by his joint high of 37 duels won over the campaign, indicative of the fact that Hummels was the more dominant of Dortmund's centre-back duo in the air.

Philipp Wollscheid
The second of three 22-year-olds to make the list is Nurnberg centre-half Philipp Wollscheid. Another promising young German defender, along with Hummels, Wollscheid made just 18 appearances last term, helping his side finish 6th. Good all-round statistics see him make the list but his most eye-catching results come from his aerial success. Wollscheid won a joint high of 37 aerial duels in far fewer games than Hummels, meaning he managed 2.06 a game. He also only lost 12, leaving him with the best success rate of the top 5.

Facets of his game that need work include his concentration, having been the only player in the list to make an errors that led to a shot and a goal last season. He also made a pretty high 31 fouls in his 18 starts, meaning his fouls per game ratio of 1.72 was the worst in the list.

Neven Subotic
Dortmund's other starting centre-back Neven Subotic completes the leader board. The 22-year-old Serbia international had solid statistics across the board despite only leading the way in terms of the least aerial duels lost per game (0.39). His stats emulated those of teammate Hummels when it came to tackling and clearances, highlighting that the team's success forced the duo into the lowest figures per game in these regards.

Having won just 20 aerial battles over the course of the season but losing just 12, his stats are decent if unremarkable. The Serbian was one of only two players in the list to make an error which led to a goal from the opposition side and his figures in terms of interceptions per game, although comparable to the side he plays in, held up the top 5 with 2.06.