Player of the Weekend: James Rodriguez

With his name forever associated with his phenomenal World Cup of 2014, Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez carries a large amount of expectation every time he walks onto a football pitch.

Since joining Bayern Munich from Real Madrid, it hasn’t always been stupendous volleys and fairytales like it was back in Brazil, but James has shown his quality this season during a campaign in which the Bavarian side has needed inspiration. For the first time in several years, Germany’s most successful club is in a title race, following BVB’s improvement.

Having trailed for most of the season, Bayern have recaptured the lead and did so this weekend thanks to a hat-trick from the man in question in a rout against Mainz. They put six past the visitors to the Allianz in a game where their number 11 scored his first treble in a Bayern shirt. All of them confident finishes, after some time out with injury, the former Porto man looks like he is back to his best.

Mi primer hat trick con @FCBayern ⚽⚽⚽ pic.twitter.com/sRaN8sVZHy

— James Rodríguez (@jamesdrodriguez) March 17, 2019

It may be one game too late what with Bayern out of the Champions League, but as far as the Munich side’s title challenge goes, they look back on form and so does one of their many playmakers.