Ahead of a winter break that is very apparent in this unusual season, ESPN’s chief Bundesliga reporter is examining the state of play in Germany’s main aircraft heading into 2021. Will you stay Bayern on top and how is the relegation rush stretching out, among other topics?
Balance is one of the encouraging aspects of Bundesliga life. Traditionally at the halfway point of the 34-round campaign, we stop, take stock and look forward to the second half of the season being played in the same order as the first.
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The German language offers us a shorthand for these two categories of 17 matchdays: the Hinrunde (first half) and the Rueckrunde (second half), by a Winter solstice (winter break) lasting several weeks helps us look forward to it again. In this pandemic year, of course, everything is different.
A later start and a complete lack of winter rest, allowing coaches and players at least a week of warm weather training, have sent home the message that these are not normal times. But the leaders are at the end of the Hinrunde it has the informal title Herbstmeister (winter winners) given to them, this year with just 13 rounds completed, we need to be a little more creative with our vocabulary.
Bayern governs the Hinrunde roast
So it is with Bayern Munich Weihnachtsmeister (Christmas Heroes), something that looked unlike most of the top of the table show with Bayer Leverkusen at the Bay Arena on December 19th. Played for the opening stage of the match and finding they were 1-0 behind for the seventh consecutive league game, the Rekordmeister nonetheless he found a way to a loss that could be his last gasp win – guaranteed by FIFA, Robert Lewandowski’s top prize winner with help from Joshua Kimmich.
It was just a miracle that Kimmich had a part to play. Out for 42 days after suffering a meniscus injury in Borussia Dortmund’s 3-2 win, Bayern ‘s main stable came halfway through the second half. Kimmich is the one who makes the team perfect, with his intelligence and so unstoppable, and badly missed, so he is a warning to Bayern title opponents that he will be back from the first start when Mainz travels to the Allianz Arena on Sunday (live stream on ESPN + at 12.00).
It is natural to see the final day of 2020 as a missed opportunity for Leverkusen, as RB Leipzig was held 0-0 at home by FC Koln and Dortmund fell 2-1 away to surprise. on the Union Berlin package.
But while Bayern prefer to get ninth in a row Meisterschale (Bowl of Champions), the demands on their players won’t let up in 2021. Early February will mean a trip to Qatar for the FIFA Club World Cup and a corresponding deluge of matches. The onus is on others to be tougher, but will it be enough?
Bayern lost just one competitive game in all of 2020 (to TSG Hoffenheim). They are undoubtedly masters when it comes to negotiating the unique challenges of playing in a pandemic. It is safe to say that they have overcome most of the expected – and perhaps unexpected – obstacles that will arise.
1:06
Derek Rae reflects on how Hansi Flick turned Bayern Munich around with a few key manpower changes.
Can anyone challenge the Bayern spirit?
Among the sides in the top half of the table, Leverkusen, VfL Wolfsburg, FC Union Berlin and VfB Stuttgart have exceeded expectations, while Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach have performed below our expectations. the expectation. For Gladbach, there are emergency situations. Being ready for Champions League football in a close group – which includes Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk – undoubtedly had a huge impact on the Fohlenelf. It was a great achievement that they went ahead from that group and flew in the cap of high profile coach Marco Rose.
A few weeks ago, I was a little worried about SC Freiburg, which I regard as a lasting sentiment story where the Bundesliga is concerned. But over the last five days they have the best record of any side in the league. Three wins in a row in a week against direct competitors in the fight against relegation has built the Breisgau side up to 10th. Their coach Christian Streich celebrated nine years in the job this week and there really is no one else you would want in that role. With Freiburg being one of the most prestigious university cities in Germany, the wise owls know a good thing when they see it.
Low side clubs playing with fire
In the bottom half, Hoffenheim are the biggest disappointment, another team that could be influenced by European considerations. The same team with a new coach entering the new season, I am likely to pass them by as the football under Sebastian Hoeness has been attractive. After two previous failures on the continental platform, everyone went at the Kraichgau the club wanted to make amends and can be confident of Molde ‘s side against Norway in the Europa League matches in February.
With easier Hinrunde run in the next few weeks, look for Hoffenheim to climb back up the board. Their 2-1 win at Gladbach’s final outing in the league could be a glimpse of better things to come.
Werder Bremen, Hertha Berlin and Koln are all with their heads above water for now but will it stay that way? Out of the three, I am probably a little more concerned about Bremen, for whom points had been difficult to come by. All three of their winners have been at the expense of the current three bases and Union, Leverkusen and Gladbach are all coming up as opponents before Rueckrunde starting. A points collection looks more likely in the short term for Hertha and Koln.
Documentary drama links on
Sixteenth-placed Arminia Bielefeld has ruled top winners, both deserving, against Mainz and Schalke 04 a few weeks ago. The third medal and relegation playoff spot would not be a major achievement for a club back in the Bundesliga after being absent for 11 years.
Can the two teams under Bielefeld in the automated relegation positions dig themselves out with new leaders? Mainz is going ” back in the future ” with long – term general manager Christian Heidel returning as a senior board member overseeing Sport, Strategy and Communications. With sports director Rouven Schroder released just before Christmas comes Martin Schmidt who was previously Mainz coach. Heidel and Schmidt are targeting former club player and youth coach Bo Svensson, who currently coaches Liefering in Austria.
Meanwhile Schalke are on their fourth coach of the season after David Wagner, Manuel Baum and Huub Stevens. The Gelsenkirchen club have handed the reins to former Tottenham boss Christian Gross who last worked in the Bundesliga more than a decade ago with VfB Stuttgart in 2009. The prospects look hopeless. dice for a team without winning a league in almost a year.
Frohes neues Jahr!
On a personal note, thanks for reading my weekly German football columns in the past few months and a Happy New Year to you and your family. ESPN + viewers and many around the world can join me for a live international live coverage of Hoffenheim-Freiburg (Saturday, 9.30pm ET) and Bayern-Mainz (Sunday, 12pm ET) at the weekend seo.