+ http://www.goal.com/en-us/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=520886

12/20/2007 6:54 AM
Bundesliga Mid-Season Review
As German football goes into winter hibernation mode, Goal.com takes a look at the Bundesliga’s top-of-the-table picture.

They said it would all be over by Christmas. Actually, I did too. But this has been a great Hinrunde (first round of league fixtures) for the Bundesliga fan.

On the one hand we’ve had the joy of watching world-class individuals like Franck Ribéry and Luca Toni ply their trade in Germany. On the other hand we haven’t seen Bayern run away with the title.

The Bundesliga is often scoffed at by fans of other leagues for being a one-team competition. It’s a misguided notion.

Not only did the Rekordmeister tumble to a lowly fourth placed finish last season, but they head into this year’s winter break top only on goal difference. Italy, Spain, England, France, Portugal – none of their title races are quite so close at the moment.

Bayern's Storming Start

It hadn’t always looked this way, mind. Wowed by the novelty of a German side spending whopping amounts that fans of Europe’s big three leagues are well accustomed to, Bundesliga sides appeared star-struck as they lined up against Bayern’s mega-stars.

Ottmar Hitzfeld’s side took advantage in style – their first three games saw three wins, ten goals scored and none against. Ribéry deservedly took August’s player-of-the-month gong, his display in the 4-0 away win at Bremen truly something to savour.

The Decline (Of Sorts) Of Bayern Munich

As the Münchner then stretched their lead to six points, Uli Hoeneß’ prophecy (“the opposition will need binoculars to see us we’ll be so far in front”) looked to be fulfilling itself. It may do still, but for now the Bavarian giants have been pegged back.

“We’re Autumn champions,” grinned Hoeneß and Hitzfeld, their faces cracking under the pressure of such false joy following a limp 0-0 draw at Hertha Berlin on Saturday. Bayern achieved their aim of being top at Christmas, but they have stumbled – rather than strolled – to the finish line.

Rifts between the German players and the foreigners; stars such as Sagnol and Podolski blasting Hitzfeld for benching them; captain Oliver Kahn ducking out of the club’s Christmas party; dissent between the board and certain fan groups; high profile media spats between Hitzfeld, Hoeneß and chairman Karl-Heinz Rummennigge - the list goes on.

Top spot cannot hide the fact that all is not well at the Allianz Arena. €70m is a lot of money to spend for draws at home to Frankfurt, Duisburg or (in the Uefa Cup) Bolton Wanderers. Hitzfeld, fed up with the constant pressure and aura of dissatisfaction, could be yodelling his way off to Switzerland soon.

But let’s clarify the situation – Bayern haven’t been that bad. First place on goal difference is hardly a disaster. The Rekordmeister have lost just once, 3-1 at Stuttgart. This time last year, they’d lost four league games. What is more, the Münchner have undoubtedly had the toughest fixture schedule of any of the big sides: of the usual tricky away fixtures, Bayern only have a trip to Schalke left to play.

If we’re looking for an explanation for such a close Hinrunde, let’s focus on the positives: Hamburg, Leverkusen and particularly Werder Bremen have been superb.

Hanseatic Heroes

If leagues were played from January to December, Huub Stevens’ Hamburg would have won the 2007 Bundesliga at a canter. In less than twelve months the Dutchman has transformed the Hanseaten from rock-bottom relegation candidates to serious championship challengers.

Rafael Van der Vaart is back to his best, but HSV have proven their ability to win even without the dynamic Dutch international. Ivica Olic has been transformed from mis-hit to Mister Hat-Trick, holding midfielder David Jarolim is consistently one of the best players in the league, while Stevens appears to have established a real bond with his players.

Two disappointing draws at the end have left HSV four points off the pace, but they have demonstrated that they have the heads – as well as the talent – to succeed.

Renaissance In West Phalia

Bayer Leverkusen are also experiencing something of a renaissance this season. A crushing 5-2 defeat at Bremen on Saturday brought an abrupt end to an otherwise strong campaign, but Michael Skibbe’s men have generally looked tight at the back and useful in attack.

Kicker magazine rank young midfielder Simon Rolfes the number one performner in the Bundesliga this season (Jarolim, Diego, Ribéry and Schalke’s Marcelo Bordon round out the top five), testament to Leverkusen’s ability to get the best from lesser-known talents.

Young Swiss star Tranquillo Barnetta and veteran attacker Sergey Barbarez have also been superb. Sporting director Rudi Völler doesn’t expect his team to challenge for honours this season, but privately he must be hoping for a Champions League spot.

Wonderful Werder

If two of Germany’s Champions League representatives, Schalke and Stuttgart, have disappointed domestically, it is Werder Bremen who have really caught the eye. For several years now one thing has been clear in the Bundesliga: if you really want to be entertained, you should head to the Weserstadion.

The summer departure of Miroslav Klose led to fears of an impending Green-and-White goal drought. 42 goals in 17 games (Bayern have 31) suggests otherwise. Thomas Schaaf’s men live by their attacking football, even if it means they struggle defensively.

Werder put eight goals past Bielefeld, hit Karlsruhe and champions Stuttgart for four, and just when things looked to be going pear-shaped with a 4-3 defeat at Hannover they bounced last weekend, hammering in-form Leverkusen 5-2. This is not a side content to play for a draw or sit on a 1-0 lead.

Diego remains the fans' hero, contributing nine goals, but the true star is the team. That may be football’s favourite cheap throwaway line, but in Bremen’s case it holds true: Werder have been absolutely ravaged by injuries this term.

Schaaf has used a whopping 27 players in the league so far. Only three men have been passed fit for every game while inspirational leader Torsten Frings has barely featured. A slow start and embarrassing mauling at home to Bayern aside, it’s barely mattered.

Fringe players have stepped in and continued the free-flowing footballing philosophy; new heroes like Boubacar Sanogo or Daniel Jensen have been born; Ivan Klasnic returned from two kidney transplants to net a brace against Leverkusen. Given a fully-fit squad, the depth of options available to Thomas Schaaf is simply frightening.

Bremen lack the cash of their southern rivals, but they are an incredibly skilful and well-managed side. Hoeneß remains defiant, but Bremen will have made the Bayern manager more than a little nervous as we head into 2008. Bayern remain the favourites for the big prize, but they are also undeniably the side under the greatest pressure.

Chris Williams