FOOTBALL AROUND THE WORLD

WHY IT’S ANYONE’S GAME IN GERMANY

Max Ahlborn Discusses Why This Year Is So Unique

In the past decade, the Bundesliga has faced perhaps deserved criticism for its lack of competition in the title race. And while teams like Dortmund or Leipzig would perhaps tease the idea of challenging for the Meisterschale, it always seemed a forgone conclusion that Bayern Munich would lift the title come May. This season, however, five teams have good reason to label themselves challengers and it seems very, very possible that the Bavarians will be knocked off their perch this season.

Just barely leading the pack on goal difference are reigning champions Bayern, but their form in 2023 has definitely left something to be desired with the Bavarian side dropping nine points in seven games since the turn of the year with even marquee signing João Cancelo unable to prevent Bayern’s seemingly annual demise to Mönchengladbach away from home.

The problem mainly lies in attack with the board unable to fully replace Robert Lewandowski’s goals. Sadio

Mane is struggling to stay fit and while former Stoke flop Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting has done an admirable job, Robert Lewandowski he is not. Undoubtedly the team’s brightest spark this season has been teenager Jamal Musiala with the Chelsea academy product and German International bagging 11 goals and seven assists so far this season. Julian Nagelsmann will be hoping that Musiala can help fire his men to an 11th straight title come May.

Just behind them are undoubtedly the most inform team in the Bundesliga right now in Borussia Dortmund. The slim lead Bayern hold is courtesy of only goal difference, as BVB are ready to pounce at any stage. They entered the Winter break in a borderline crisis, lying 6th in the league and none points off Bayern. However, a sharp upturn in fortunes since the turn of the year, highlighted by nine straight wins in all competitions and seven straight in the league, has propelled them into second, level on points with leaders Bayern. This hot run of form has been spearheaded by the big leaps of two key players in the side: Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi. In the absence of captain Marco Reus, Julian Brandt has finally stepped up and showed some consistency in the number 10 role winning the Bundesliga player of the month for January and scoring in 4 straight games. Adeyemi is also finally starting to look as advertised, scoring 3 and getting an assist in February to further legitimise Dortmund’s title charge. Among other consistent performers are Jude Bellingham and Gregor Kobel. The young English midfielder is quickly solidifying himself as one of the world’s best midfielders with elite clubs like Real Madrid and mid-table clubs like Liverpool desperate to add him to their squads in summer. The ever- present Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel also adds another element in front of Dortmund’s much improved back line. Coach Edin Terzić will hope that his Dortmund side can end Bayern’s 10 year stretch of dominance and lift the Meisterschale in front of the Westfalenstadion faithful.

The surprise story of this season Union Berlin sit behind the usual two challengers in 3rd. In the 3rd tier of German football less than 20 years ago and having to rely on their fans to rebuild their stadium in 2009 when it was falling apart, they now find themselves in a Bundesliga title race. The working-class club from East-Berlin pride themselves on their rich history and tradition and have set alight not just the Bundesliga but also the Europa League, beating Dutch champions Ajax to advance to the last 16. Building their team on a strong defence which has become statistically the 2nd best in the league and summer acquisition Jordan and his strike partner Sheraldo Becker providing 11 goals between them so far, Urs Fischer’s men have captured the heart of many throughout Germany as they look to prove that you can indeed challenge with those at the top with limited resources. Despite losing to Bayern comprehensively on the weekend, the disparity between the two sides is at a mere three points, which can easily be overcome. How long they maintain this title challenge remains to be seen.

Of the teams that follow, it is RB Leipzig and SC Freiburg who have the greatest chance of challenging for the title.

Leipzig are less then well-liked in Germany with their poor home support and vast amount of riches which have led them to sign players such as Nkunku from PSG, Angeliño from Manchester City and Dominik Szoboszlai from sister club RB Salzburg, drawing disapproving looks from fans all across the league. However they are undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with, and will look to capitalise on the chance to win a league title before Nkunku’s transfer to Chelsea this summer. SC Freiburg by contrast are, similiarly to Union Berlin, a club filled to the brim with tradition and history. With long time head-coach Christian Streich at the helm, the club has seemed to be on an upward spiral ever since regaining promotion from the second tier in 2016 with players such as Vincenzo Grifo and home-town boy Matthias Ginter catalysing another strong season in the Black Forest.

Will all this competition finally prove enough for Bayern to succumb to not winning the league for the first time in over a decade? Perhaps. But the men from Bavaria have proven time and time again to be winners and overcome adversity even when the chips are down. Only time will tell if this season will be different.