Alexander Nübel

Key strength: Shot-stopping

Shot-stopper

At VfB Stuttgart, an unlikely Champions League charge has created one of the Bundesliga's most intriguing goalkeeping subplots. Die Schwaben sit 5th in the table after a DLWLW run that defies preseason expectations, yet anchoring their unlikely European push is not the €12 million Bayern Munich loanee—but rather Fabian Bredlow, whose commanding performances have relegated Alexander Nübel to the shadows. The 29-year-old German international has managed just two appearances and 180 minutes this campaign, a stark contrast to his pedigree. Signed from Bayern to provide elite shot-stopping and distribution perfectly suited to Stuttgart's transitional style, Nübel instead finds himself as the league's most expensive insurance policy. Behind a resolute backline marshalled by Jeff Chabot and Maximilian Mittelstädt, he waits patiently. Yet this bench role belies his quality. Nübel brings exactly what elite sides crave: commanding presence and precise distribution honed at Bayern. As Stuttgart chase their most significant continental finish in years, Nübel's gloves remain prepared. When the stakes reach their highest—whether through injury, rotation, or a decisive European night—Stuttgart know they have a premium goalkeeper in waiting, ready to prove why Bayern invested in him.