Created on 05-03-2013 at 00:00 AM
The first hint of spring has finally arrived in Munich, and if the new season of the year was to have a face, it would be that of Dante Bonfim Costa Santos. Sunny, relaxed and bearing a permanent smile, the Brazilian is the best antidote to the dark, wearisome mid-European winter. He is also one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga this term, much to the league leaders’ benefit and delight.
Bayern have let in a miserly eight goals in 24 Bundesliga fixtures this season, keeping clean sheets on 17 occasions. The stats are even more impressive for FCB’s games on the road, with only one goal against in 11 away games, and no goals conceded in 603 playing minutes on opponents’ home fields, representing two more records in the German top flight’s 50-year history. Centre-back Dante has made a huge contribution to the superb campaign so far.