Bundesliga Winter Break Review

The Bavarian Giants

Starting things off at the top of the table, despite a shaky period early in the fall, Bayern managed to head into the break with a healthy four-point lead ahead of surprising second-place SC Freiburg. The Bavarian giants are a full six points ahead of Leipzig and nine above sixth- place Borussia Dortmund, whom pundits saw as their two most serious challengers before the season.

Rest of the Top Four

As for Freiburg, there really are no words to adequately describe just how much coach Christian Streich’s men are overperforming. What they have done over the last decade to establish themselves as a Bundesliga side was incredible enough. But the way they played last season and so far this term, is on quite another level.

The team from the Black Forest has the budget of a club that should expect to finish in the lower mid table at best. Instead, they only narrowly missed out on a top-four finish in the league and just lost the cup final on penalties.

So far this season, they have done even better. For the first time in Freiburg’s history, they spend the winter break still involved in all three competitions, having reached the round of 16 of both the German Cup and the UEFA Europa League while being second in the league.

Meanwhile, Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt have both had strong finishes to the calendar year. After a shaky start to the season for both, they go into the winter break inside the top four. In the case of Leipzig, the appointment of coach Marco Rose in early September made all the difference so far.

Dortmund and Union

As for Union Berlin, they started the season very strong even in top spot in the league for most of it, but in the end their involvement in three competitions (Bundesliga, German Cup and Europa League) caused them to run out of steam and finish the calendar year in fifth. But much like Freiburg, they are outperforming even what must be their own most optimistic expectations.

Dortmund on the other hand, is once again underperforming. With two unnecessary defeats to end the calendar year, they have likely ended any realistic hopes of winning the Bundesliga title. Replacing Marco Rose with current coach Edin Terzić has thus far not had anywhere near the desired effect.

Middle of the Pack

The mid-table teams, especially Borussia Mönchengladbach, FSV Mainz 05 and TSG Hoffenheim have been very inconsistent, as their current rankings would indicate. VfL Wolfsburg the other hand, has had a great finish to the calendar year in the Bundesliga, leaving them in a solid seventh position for now. Ninth place Werder Bremen has been one of the positive surprises so far this term.

The promoted team looks almost certain to avoid the drop back to the second tier. Their good offensive play has been Inspired by Niclas Füllkrug, whose goals have earned him a place on Germany’s World Cup squad, despite his lack of international experience.

Leverkusen and the Fight Against the Drop

It is safe to say that Bayer Leverkusen was by far the biggest disappointment so far this season. Not only have the contenders for a top-four finish (an objective they reached last term), spent months near the bottom of the table, but a third division team eliminated them in the first round of the German Cup. To make matters worse, Leverkusen is also the only Bundesliga side eliminated at the group stage of the Champions League.

To their credit, coach Xabi Alonso’s men did win the three most recent Bundesliga matches. This moved them up to twelfth place in the table, which is still far away from their objectives.

Leverkusen has 18 points 1.FC Koln has 17, while FC Augsburg has 15. Below them are Hertha Berlin and VfB Stuttgart with 14 points each. VfL Bochum and Schalke 04 occupy the two relegation places with 13 and 9 points respectively.

Final Thoughts at the Bundesliga Winter Break

This proves just how tight the relegation fight is. Schalke will of course have the biggest trouble avoiding the drop, but they are not out of it by any means. Most other regions of the Bundesliga table promise excitement in the coming spring as well.

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