Europhiles Notebook - Europe's most Even League

Comment on the Bundesliga

The breakout story and standout performer of the Bundesliga so far, is the success of Mainz.  The small Rhineland club, whose best previous finish had been ninth spot last season, ran off seven consecutive victories to top the league table with a perfect record.  Enroute to the record equalling best ever start, were wins over a selection of recent German Champions’ League glitterati:  Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen, Stuttgart and Wolfsburg.  While heavyweights Bremen and Bayern were beaten at their own arenas, Mainz also ensured they did not slip up against the smaller clubs, beating Cologne and former champions Kaiserlautern, as well as edging recent stalwarts and moneybags Hoffenheim.

Their success has been built around a core of younger players mixed in with some foreign imports; some loaned from other clubs, but mostly home grown.  Although they have since lost, at home to Hamburg, to surrender both their perfect start and top spot to Borussia Dortmund (more on them later), their success is a beacon to other smaller clubs who seek to compete with the bigger names.    Players such as Hungarian Adam Szalai, dual-citizen Lewis Holtby (of Evertonian roots) and young German Adam Schurrle are fast becoming household names.

Moving on to Borussia Dortmund, the former European champions (1997), seem to have turned a new leaf this season; as an opening day defeat to Bayer Leverkusen aside, they have reeled off seven straight wins themselves.   They’ve eclipsed early front runners Mainz to now top the table, having in their turn, also beaten Bayern, Stuttgart and Wolfsburg, to complete the set of vanquished recent Bundesliga champions.  Their campaign seems primed for the long-term with their squad more resilient than former editions.  Japanese midfielder Shinji Kagawa and Paraguayan striker Lucas Barrios have scored eight times between them, with the shot happy South American an outside bet for 20 goals this season.  Without any big names present, Dortmund have managed to rotate a decent squad with plenty of options around the pitch.  With many of the other bigger clubs struggling, the black-yellows will look to regain the title they last won in 2002.

And with that one marvels at what is happening outside the top two.  With Bayern languishing outside the top half, Schalke and Stuttgart both in the relegation spots, with Wolfsburg and Bremen also in the lower reaches; the stage is set for the Bundesliga to produce another entertaining, unpredictable campaign with potentially another winner not named Bayern Munich.  With both Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen well placed, the odds are short on either of them to take the title home.

Interestingly, three of the biggest guns are having nightmare starts.  Bayern supremo, Franz Beckenbauer, has already thrown in the towel, conceding that Bayern has an extremely small, unlikely chance of winning.  The Bavarian giants are rolling in Europe but forever stuck in second gear at home.  Will this mean the Champions’ League runners-up will concentrate on Europe, hoping to do one better than last season’s vintage?  Time will tell of course, as it will for the chances of Stuttgart and Schalke, who though mired in the drop zone, will surely improve.

All three teams have been amongst the most successful German clubs in recent times but seem to be suffering from lengthier than normal slow starts.  Just like Bayern, Schalke is doing well enough in Europe, well placed to progress from the group stage while Stuttgart, Bundesliga champions in 2007, is topping their Europa League group.  With just 20 points and 32 goals from 24 games between the three, one or more will surely finish outside the European places this season.  Unlike Beckenbauer, Schalke manager, Felix Magath, is making the right noises though, stating that he will not leave before Schalke wins the Bundesliga.  However, he may have to contend with the departure of star goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who has admitted interest from Manchester United.

The Bundesliga has long been the best supported league in Europe, with the highest average attendances but are now becoming a byword for parity as well.  That theme is constant this season as well, with no teams still unbeaten (Hamburg took care of that with their defeat of Mainz), no team winless and just six points separating 3^rd place Leverkusen from Nurnberg in 13^th spot.  Competitive top flight football has never had it so good.

Amongst the other bigger names, 2009 Champions Wolfsburg are in 12^th place with just one away win from four games while Werder Bremen have none.  Werder Bremen, at least, have the distraction of a tough Champions’ League group to use an excuse while seeking to emulate last season’s third place finish; but such reasons are unavailable to Steve McLaren, manager at the Volkswagen Arena.  Both clubs are suffering from a lack of consistent firepower having only scored 27 times in 16 games.  These numbers are all the more galling, as Bremen are one of Europe’s highest scoring teams and Wolfsburg currently boast Edin Dzeko, Grafite and playmaker Diego, who ironically used to play for Bremen.

Elsewhere, in view of the troubles at the Bundesliga’s elite, some of the lesser lights are building on impressive starts.  FC St Pauli, the eccentric half of Hamburg, are currently floating just outside the European slots, having scored just one more goal than they have let in.  Hannover 96 are in 7^th while Freiburg, boosted by the scoring of Papiss Demba Cisse, are relatively well placed in 9^th spot.  Trivia alert: Freiburg are managed by Robin Dutt, born and raised in Germany but whose father is from Kolkata, India.

The more traditional side of Hamburg is well represented with Hamburg in fifth.  Having finished well in the Bundesliga (never below 8^th since 2002) and almost won the Europa League in recent seasons, Hamburg may well fancy their chances this year.  Despite a seven point gap to first, they seem capable of mounting a charge up the table.  And in Armin Veh, who won the title with Stuttgart three years ago, they have the right man at the helm.

For the nostalgic fan, old warhorses Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Raul are having mixed seasons.  The latter is still trying to dovetail with partner Klaas Jan Huntelaar at Schalke, having only scored once, while the Dutchman is enjoying a possible last season at Hamburg and has netted four times.  Frankfurt’s Greek marksman Theofanis Gekas and Freiburg’s Cisse lead all scorers with seven goals apiece while Holtby is the top creative presence having assisted on six goals.