Bundesliga mid-season awards: Lewandowski, Aubameyang going toe-to-toe

While the title is all but locked up, the Bundesliga continues to produce captivating moments and stories that helps fans of the German game forget that Bayern Munich is on the verge of making history by capturing an unprecedented fourth-straight league title.

Best Player: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Borussia Dortmund's seemingly endless supply of talent has churned out yet another star. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's potential has never been in doubt, but his goal-scoring output might have caught some by surprise as the Gabon international enters the winter break with a comfortable lead as the league's top scorer.

His killer instinct in front of goal is a major reason behind Borussia Dortmund's success following a year where the perennial top-three finisher found itself toiling in drop zone at this time last season.

Aubameyang has already surpassed his total (16) from last season after finding the back of the net 18 times through 17 matches and, barring an injury, should place above Robert Lewandowski if he can maintain his current pace.

Most Disappointing Player: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

It's been yet another disappointing start to the season for the big Schalke striker, as Klaas-Jan Huntelaar struggles to live up to the high expectations he set when he led the Bunesliga in scoring just three seasons ago.

The Dutch striker has been in a steady decline ever since, with this season showing the same cracks in his game that last season revealed.

His five goals through 17 contests sets him on pace to match last season's disappointing output of nine goals. His days being named among the elite scorers in Germany appear to be over.

Best Signing: Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez

Manchester United might not admit it, but the display from Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez at Bayer Leverkusen has to be one of the biggest regrets at the Premier League club this season.

Sent out on loan during the summer after manager Louis van Gaal considered him a surplus to the team's needs, the Mexican forward has been nothing short of amazing in the Bundesliga.

Few could have predicted that the floodgates would open for Chicharito at Bayer, as the 27-year-old finds himself among the league-leaders in scoring with 11 goals.

Best Goal: Lewankowski's 5th vs. Wolfsburg

What better way to cap off a five-goal onslaught than with an unstoppable, mid-air scissor kick?

While Wolfsburg 'keeper Diego Benaglio would prefer to forget the events of Sept. 22, memories of Lewandowski's output that night contest will live on for years to come.

With his team down 1-0 at halftime, Lewandowski was called upon, after starting on the bench, and immediately made an impact when he bulged the net six minutes into the second frame. The Polish international was just getting warmed up as he added another four goals by the time the game was an hour old, with his last tally topping the lot as he acrobatically thumped the ball into the top corner of goal.

Biggest Surprise: Schubert's success at Gladbach

Borussia Monchengladbach looked like the second-coming of Borussia Dortmund until Andre Schubert came along.

Marred in a nasty five-game losing streak that left the team in the depths of the Bundesliga table to begin the season - similar to Dortmund last season after its poor start - Gladbach finally turned its season around after manager Lucien Favre stepped away from his role.

Schubert was appointed as the caretaker manager and helped catapult the team up the standings with a five-match winning streak, and an unbeaten run that lasted seven matches.

Favourite Moment: Lewandowski's goal-fest vs. Wolfsburg

Scoring five goals is enough to make headlines all over the world, let alone five in under 10 minutes.

It was almost as if Lewandowski wanted to send a message to manager Pep Guardiola for leaving him on the bench in the first half against Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena.

That message was delivered six minutes into his appearance when a close-range goal triggered a goal-scoring display that likely won't be repeated in a top-tier match for years to come.

Lewandowski acted as a magnet during those nine magical minutes as the ball repeatedly found him in front of goal with a chance to demoralise the Wolfsburg 'keeper even further.

Best XI

Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)

Defenders: David Alaba (Bayern Munich), Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Joel Matip (FC Schalke 04)

Midfielders: Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich) Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Borussia Dortmund​)

Forwards: Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund)