With around half the season already under our collective belts (which are harder to buckle after Christmas dinner) JOE takes a look at how things are shaping up in Germany
The Bundesliga is not quite at its half way point yet, but plenty has happened so far this season to catch up on, including big changes at the top of the table, managerial sackings and plenty of great goals. Before we start, why not watch ten of the best from the first half of the year so far?
http://youtu.be/osUujAvr-8E
FC Augsberg
They narrowly avoided relegation last year, but this season they have been a much improved and much more consistent outfit. Going into the winter break in 2012/13, they had only 15 points, but this year they have 24, and find themselves in eighth position, just a few points behind the European places.
That improved performance has seen head coach Markus Weinzierl get an extension this week, which the results have merited. Andre Hahn, the 23-year-old midfielder has been ever present and one of the stand out players, starting 16 of his side's games and scoring six, and only missing one game due to suspension. They could well be one of the season's surprise packages and push on for a European place, but there's plenty of competition in that neck of the table this year.
Bayer Leverkusen
Under the coaching reign of Liverpool legend Sammi Hyypia, Bayer Leverkusen made a strong start to their season, and have carried that run through to the break, as they sit second in the table. They have, however, fallen off in recent weeks, suffering a few defeats on the trot to Eintracht Frankfurt and Werder Bremen, but that shouldn't detract from what this side are capable of.
Skipper Simon Rolfes claims tiredness was a factor for the last two results, and that they would welcome the break to try and get their earlier season form back. Their victory over Borussia Dortmund, one of the league's biggest teams just before the two consecutive losses, suggested they were ready to take the step and become a title challenger, so it will be interesting to watch the second half of the year and see can they close the gap on the league leaders. Stefan Kiessling's nine goals makes him their top scorer, but the brilliantly named Sidney Sam and Heung Min Son are close behind with seven each, proving that there is no short supply of goals in the side. However, you might say that Kiessling has only eight goals, as this particular strange one was one of his.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8LDD9AJcmI
Bayern Munich
Pep Guardiola's first season in charge of the German giants started with a lot of questions. His rotation of the squad and his moving Philip Lahm into midfield had people scratching their heads and claiming that he had only served to expose weaknesses in the side rather than make them any stronger. When they drew 1-1 with SC Freiburg on matchday four, those doubters began to become even more vocal.
However, with a FIFA World Club Cup win to their name and a series of impressive wins right before the break (including a 7-0 shellacking of Werder Bremen), Bayern are beginning to exert a real sense of control over the league. Rafinha has seen more minutes under Pep Guardiola which has lead to him signing an extension with the club, and one of their big signings in the summer, Thiago Alcantara, looks to be settling into life in Germany after performing brilliantly on the way to claiming the Club World Cup. Mario Gotze was another signing for whom big things are expected, and he scored on his return to the Signal Iduna Park against Dortmund in a comprehensive win by the men from Munich.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvTnKTWJrAE
In current form, it's difficult to see anyone stopping them, and with squad depth, in particular to cover any injuries in midfield, it would take something extraordinary to derail this train. Despite a loss to Manchester City (after their Christmas party apparently) in Europe, they will once again be one of the outstanding contenders for the Champions League, and they have the squad depth to deal with it too. Reports are circulating that they might sign Robert Lewandowski in this window to add to their numbers, but that seems unlikely on the basis that he would be cup tied in the Champions League, so the summer may be more realistic.
Borussia Dortmund
Every year Dortmund seem to have to start the season shorn of their best players, as Europe's clubs come calling for their signatures. This year they lost Gotze, but striker Lewandowski stayed on, and was joined by Pierre-Emerick Aubemeyang, who hit the ground running with a hat-trick on his debut.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv51-IzcffQ
It seemed that they were about to continue where they had left off last season, pushing Bayern Munich to their limits in every competition both at home and in Europe, having added to their squad in a significant way and beating some of Europe's other big clubs to the signature of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who was rumoured to be headed to the Premier League but swapped England for Germany.
Losses to Leverkusen and Hertha Berlin mean that they enter the winter break without a win in three, and having lost their last three home matches, something which the charismatic Jürgen Klopp admitted might be due to tiredness at this stage of the season. In the calendar year, things could have been so different for this side, but it was ultimately disappointing, as they lost out on the Champions League and the Bundesliga. This season has possibly seen the ill effects of that effort take hold. Injuries to Lukasz Piszczek, Mats Hummels, Neven Subotic, Marcel Schmelzer and Ilkay Gundogan have all been felt, and January may seem them try to do some business to bring in cover. Either way the break is badly needed for them if they hope to recover their form and return to being the Borussia Dormtund that captivated Europe last season.
Borussia Mönchengladbach
It's been a great season so far for the side from Mönchengladbach, as they've made their best start to a campaign since 1976 under manager Lucien Favre. They may not have been highly fancied to end up in the top four at the start of the season, but a 2-2 draw just before the break ensured that they would spend Christmas in third place, above Borussia Dortmund.
Their home form has been the platform on which they've built their charge for the top spots, with eight wins on the trot at Borussia-Park, where they have been exceptional, conceding just seven goals. Juan Arango has produced some special set pieces, including this beauty against Wolfsburg, which may well be a contender for one of the goals of the season.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dE7uC707vA
Max Kruse has been central to all their attacking play with eight goals and eight assists, while the young Granit Xhaka has been an important piece of the puzzle, creating plenty of chances for his teammates in his 16 starts. Considering that they are unable to count on one of their starting centre backs, Alvaro Dominguez, who is out until the New Year with a shoulder injury, their defensive solidity is quite a feat, and if they can continue keeping opposition attacks at bay, then they may well make the top four come the end of the season.
Eintracht Braunschweig
A lack of firing power up front has lead to Eintracht Braunschweig sturggling to find any goals, and no goals means no wins. They have scored only ten, and when that's coupled with the 32 that they've conceded, it doesn't paint a pretty picture for the team that sits at the bottom of the Bundesliga. This is their first time back in the top flight in 28 years, and they are struggling with the step up in quality.
Their winter break started on a slightly sweeter note with a 1-0 win over TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, and another three points could see them well on their way to safety, with things still very tight down at the bottom of the table. Highlight of their season so far was a win against Wolfsburg away from home in the Lower Saxony derby (that's the big one, as we all well know), and if they can reach that level of performance with a bit more regularity they could be hopeful of staying at the highest level of German football for another year. That's a big ask however, as they have looked hapless at times, so don't be surprised to see them in the drop zone at the end of the year.
For those interested in random football facts, Eintracht Braunschweig were the first team in Germany to get a sponsor on their kit way back in the 1973/74 season, from none of other than the purveyors of fine booze, Jägermeister. Eintracht will be hoping that this season will end up less messy than a night spent downing Jägerbombs, we presume.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKXw7haBGEk
Eintracht Frankfurt
Last year's amazing run has come to a bit of a halt this year, when as a newly promoted team, they surprised everyone by getting into the European places last year. Second season syndrome is hitting them hard this time around, and as with many teams Europa League football seems more of a curse than a blessing. Of course, it can't all be blamed on that, and a run of one win in 12 is probably more of a contributing factor.
One of JOE's favourite players (mainly because he has a great name) Tranquillo Barnetta is their top scorer with four goals, which tells a tale in and of itself. They are progressing well in Europe, with a match against Porto awaiting them in February, which will stretch their resources that bit further. They start back to action at the end of January against Hertha Berlin, who beat them 6-1 on the opening day of the season, so a win there would be a nice way not only to get some revenge, but also get three important points and notch up their 400th win in the history of the Bundesliga.
