Bundesliga half-time report: Five things we have learnt so far

Can Bayern Munich go one better under Pep?

When Bayern Munich won the League last year, winning 29 of their 34 games, losing just once and scoring a staggering 98 goals, many thought that that was it. Many believed that, they had come as close to perfection as it was possible, after all, they smashed Dortmund’s record of most points in a single season by an incredible 10 points. But, for all their achievements, one thing still eluded them, they were unable to finish the season undefeated. A feat that has never been achieved since the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963.

Dresdner SC was the last team to manage an unbeaten season, when they won all 23 games in the 1942–43 season. But since then, no team, has been able to achieve that feat. But, Bayern Munich going into the winter break, knowing fully well that, if they continue playing the way they are not only will they get that record, but also have a legitimate shot at also becoming the most prolific scorers in the Bundesliga, by beating their own mark of 101 set in 1971/72.

Raffael and M. Kruse revive the dying art of strike partnerships

The high-intensity of the German football, doesn’t lend itself, to two up top, in fact, not many teams, prefer starting with two out and out forwards. Perhaps, that is the reason why, when the English League has had so many prolific strike partnerships, the Bundesliga pales in comparison. And whilst it is true that only in 2008/09 that Grafite and Edin Džeko, became the most prolific strike partnership in Bundesliga history, scoring 54 goals, they were the exception that proved the norm.

This year, there might just be another exception on our hands. And whilst they might not challenge the Wolfsburg duo for their title anytime soon, that still doesn’t take anything away from their achievements so far. Raffael and M. Kruse have formed a lethal striker partnership that has accounted for 17 of Gladbach’s 35 League goals this season. That coupled with their 9 assists so far means that they have played a direct hand in almost 75% of the goals scored by Borussia M.Gladbach and have been one of the main reasons for the club’s meteoric rise, which sees them in third place, above Dortmund heading into the break. If the duo, keep up their form, there is no reason why Gladbach can’t get into the Champions League at the end of the season.

Dortmund have a fight on their hands

If Dortmund thought that as runners-up in the UEFA Champions League last season, they will have it easy this time around, they might have to think again. Jurgen Klopp’s men have already lost five times this season, one fewer than they managed in the whole campaign last time out. They are already 12 points behind Bayern Munich and the title seems well and truly beyond their grasp.

With the way things are going right now, Dortmund will have to fight it out, not for the League, but for a place in the Champions League at the end of the season. With Leverkusen and Gladbach enjoying great starts to their respective seasons, Dortmund will have to get their act together if they are to stand a chance of finishing in the Champions League spots. Whilst that will certainly be a bitter pill for Klopp to swallow, that is perhaps the result of consistently losing their best player after every season. Now, not only should they fight for their players, but for their season as well.

A step too soon for Braunschweig?

When Eintracht Braunschweig made their way back into the Bundesliga after a 28 year hiatus, it was being billed as a feel-good story of the year. After all, it was only five years ago, that the club were facing the prospect of fourth tier football. And this is not any club that we are talking about, it is Braunschweig, one of the founder members of the Bundesliga and a former national champion.

Before the start of the season, their coach Torsten Lieberknecht said: “We have something in our chests and we want to surprise.” Unfortunately for the club, romance often ends in heartbreak, especially in football. And the club from lower Saxony head into the New Year, bottom of the League with just 11 points and having already lost 12 games this season. And although they have won three games so far, they have scored just 10 goals, and it looks like promotion to the Bundesliga this season, might just have been a step too soon for their Braunschweig outfit who have looked out of place thus far.

Are Hoffenheim the most entertaining team in the League?

Whilst there are those harping on about the fact that the League is dead, as the Bavarians are once again walking away with it, stats say otherwise. A total of 486 goals have already been scored so far this season at a stupendous average of 3.19 per game, the highest return in 27 years. Contributing a major part to that, has been Hoffenheim, whose games have combined for a total of 74 at a staggering average of 4.35 goals per game.

Although they are languishing near the bottom of the table, the Hoffenheim faithful can’t really complain that they haven’t been entertained as their side has certainly done that. Only Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have scored more goals than Markus Gisdol’s side. But the problem has been the fact that they have the joint-worst defense in the League, having already conceded 38 goals. Earlier in the season, after a 4-4 draw against Werder Bremen, their coach summed up beautifully by saying: “If we had scored seven goals, we would have conceded seven as well.” And whilst that might not be great for the fans, for the neutrals watching, that only reaffirms the belief that if goals are what you are after, then Hoffenheim is where it’s at.