The Bundesliga is back! Here’s everything you need to know
Will Bayern Munich march to the title for an 11th consecutive year or will they get stern resistance from usual suspects RB Leipzig and a surprise package or 2? Let’s recap the state of play in this season’s German top-flight and look at some of the outstanding players to watch.
Bayern on the march but not out of sight, yet
Bayern Munich, Bundesliga winners in each of the last 10 seasons, racked up 10 consecutive wins (all competitions) prior to the WC break. It’s typical of them, and an ominous sign for their nearest rivals.
They have dropped 11 points this season, proving that they’re far from invincible. The problem for the chasing pack, however, is that the last time they failed to win a top-flight game was on 8th October in a 2-2 draw with Dortmund. Since then, Julian Nagelsmann’s team have won 6 league games on the bounce scoring 24 goals. In all competitions, they’ve scored 38 times in their last 10 outings. It’s just what they do.
Their only Bundesliga defeat this season, bizarrely, came against 14th-placed Augsburg, a team that haven’t won any of their last 8 matches. That’s also the only game in which Bayern failed to score this season.
Who are Bayern’s credible title challengers?
RB Leipzig finished outside of the top 3 last season (4th) for the first time since 2017/18. Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund occupied either 2nd or 3rd for 3 seasons running, but Bayer Leverkusen broke up that sequence last season by claiming a podium place behind Bayern and Dortmund. Leverkusen are really struggling this season, however, all the way back in 12th. They did show some encouraging signs with 3 consecutive wins prior to WC22, though, so a finish inside the European places could be their realistic and revised target.
Freiburg are undoubtedly this season’s surprise package, just 4 points adrift of Bayern in 2nd place after 15 matches. It’s been a remarkable response to their disappointing end to 2021/22, when they lost both 4th place and a cup final to RB Leipzig in the space of 15 days. Italian striker Vincenzo Grifo (9 league goals so far) and the relentless runner Ritsu Doan, outstanding for Japan at WC22, are their 2 standout players this term.
They’re certainly a team to watch closely and take seriously. Manager Christian Streich is already a cult figure within the club, having played for them in the late 80s, coached their U19s and served as assistant manager from 2007 to 2011, when he was appointed as first-team manager. Needless to say, this man knows the club inside out.
Dortmund will also be aiming for a top 4 finish or higher, especially with the heartwarming news that Ivorian striker Sébastien Haller is back on the pitch. Reigning Europa League champions Eintracht Frankfurt are always an interesting prospect: they’re 7 points adrift of Bayern and capable of beating anybody on their day.
Which players outside of Bayern should you be keeping an eye on?
Marcus Thuram has 10 Bundesliga goals and 3 assists for Borussia Mönchengladbach this term, meaning that only Bayern Munich's teenage superstar Jamal Musiala (15) and Eintracht Frankfurt’s French WC star Randal Kolo Muani (14) have more direct goal involvements than Thuram’s 13. It’s no wonder that Thuram is being linked with BIG moves to Europe’s richest clubs.
Back to Muani, who might have been a champion of the world but for a sublime save by Emi Martinez in stoppage time of extra time in an unforgettable final. These are the fine margins in football. The 24-year-old will hope that it spurs him onto success with an excellent Eintracht side this season because he showed himself to be a devastating runner and super-effective substitute option for France in Qatar.
Eintracht have been reliant on Muani (9 assists so far) and Japanese star Daichi Kamada to create and score their goals since Filip Kostic left for Juventus. Kostic was an assist machine for Eintracht, creating 44 Bundesliga goals in his last 4 completed campaigns there, but the club have able, ready-made replacements.
RB Leipzig attacker Christopher Nkunku will also be eager to go out with a bang before he moves to Chelsea at the end of this campaign. He bagged 20 goals and 13 assists in the Bundesliga last term, and currently leads the scoring charts with 12 this time around. 22-year-old Hungarian playmaker Dominik Szoboszlai is also one to watch for RB Leipzig. He’s got 7 assists this season and is starting to deliver on his huge potential.
Bundesliga highest for goals per game
In terms of average goals per game (GPG) figures, the Bundesliga is by far the most prolific of Europe’s BIG 5 domestic leagues this season. Bundesliga clashes in 2022/23 have produced 3.19 GPG so far. How does that stack up to the others?
Ligue 1 returns 2.94 GPG, the EPL comes in 3rd with 2.81 GPG, Serie A yields 2.61 GPG while Spain’s LaLiga sees its matches produce 2.47 GPG, the lowest tally across the continent’s elite leagues (as of the morning of 16th January).
Do more goals equate to more entertainment or does it imply that the weaker sides in Germany and France simply can’t compete with the BIG boys? Bayern’s 15 matches alone have produced a total of 62 goals, at an average of more than 4 GPG.
What’s next?
RB Leipzig play host to Bayern Munich in a blockbuster clash as the Bundesliga returns on Friday night. The duo’s last 3 meetings (all comps) have produced 18 goals. RB Leipzig will come up against their former manager Nagelsmann and ex-players Dayot Upamecano and Marcel Sabitzer.
Eintracht Frankfurt will be eyeing out 3 points against rock-bottom strugglers Schalke on Saturday, while Sunday sees Dortmund face Augsburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach square up to the ultra-attacking and often unpredictable youngsters of Bayer Leverkusen.
It’s a BIG weekend to welcome back a league that usually delivers plenty of goalmouth action.