With only six months to go until the end of the season, which of the four teams have a realistic opportunity to go on and win the German League crown?
The first-half of the Bundesliga season was full of surprises considering some of the unpredictable results. Teams such as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/1-FSV-Mainz-05-c38166 were tipped to do well considering their displays in the previous season but their
performances have been rather disappointing. Meanwhile, Felix Magath’s http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/VfL-Wolfsburg-c40881 were being considered as potential title contenders given the transfer activity in the summer but the results failed to show.
Bayern Munich were leading the table prior to going into the winter break, but not by a considerable margin as Borussia Dortmund, Schalke and Borussia Monchengladbach closely follow. Lucien Favre’s Gladbach was the biggest surprise
this season as they were fighting for a place in the first division when they played the relegation play-off against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/VfL-Bochum-c40880.
We will take a brief look at each of these four teams, and their possible chance to grab hold of the Bundesliga crown.
Bayern Munich
The record 22-time German champions are serious contenders to win their 23rd crown this season, and were leading the standings at the halfway stage. However, their form has dipped since the restart of the season after
the winter break. The Reds have secured only four of a possible nine points in the three games played after the break and have lost their lead at the top.
Jupp Heynckes has made a significant impact at his new club and Bayern’s displays have been in complete contrast to those from last season when they struggled to clinch a place for the Champions League. The club’s problem has been
their defence as apart from Holger Badstuber, there has been no player who has shown consistency at the back. Jerome Boateng and Rafinha have been average whereas http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Daniel-Van-Buyten-c10095 has been inconsistent.
The team’s fixture list for the remainder of the season will not help their cause either as they have UEFA Champions League fixtures coming up later this month. But the side still has immense quality and ruling them out of the
race at this stage would be a huge mistake.
Borussia Dortmund
The reigning German champions have reclaimed their place at the top of the table after a stunning start to the second-half of the season. They have won all three games after the winter break and have climbed their way back to the
top of the ladder.
The Borussians have a two-point lead over their Bavarian rivals and are in sensational from at the moment. Their exit from the UEFA Champions League after the group stage may well be a blessing in disguise as they only have the
Bundesliga to prepare for.
Borussia Dortmund’s one major concern is the injury to midfielder, Mario Gotze. The talented player is out for several weeks due to a groin injury and his services could be missed in the crucial games in the remainder of the season.
But the title race will definitely go down to the wire this year unlike the previous season when the Borussians dominated the proceedings.
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