Bundesliga 2017/18 mid-season report: 5 takeaways

#2 Dortmund undo all the promise with a spectacular implosion

Despite the strong start, Borussia Dortmund are once again left behind by Bayern

Up until matchday seven, Borussia Dortmund were comfortably sailing through the season with six victories and 19 points in the bag out of a possible 21. That coupled with Bayern's stuttering run in that period, it seemed the Yellow Submarine are on course to break the hegemony. But just then, came the rough patch. With five defeats and two draws, Dortmund imploded, and spectacularly, as they plummeted directly to 8th in the table thereby haplessly ceding the top spot.

Peter Bosz was shown the door and in came his namesake Peter Stoger, who has overseen two victories in as many games since taking over. Yet, the decline was so precipitous, it would take some resurgence to overhaul Bayern as they now trail by 13 points. The only semblance of respite is the fact that they head into the break third in the table, albeit, only on goal difference.

With Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach all hot on their coat-tails at 28 points each, Borussia Dortmund aren't completely out of danger. One misstep and the season would be an unmitigated disaster.

Stoger and co. have a mountain to climb in the second-half of the season.