Bundesliga season so far: Who have been the overachievers and underachievers?

The global coronavirus pandemic brought football to a standstill across Europe, with only Belarus going ahead with their top-flight season after nationwide lockdowns were enforced.

But, after Angela Merkel’s government gave the green light, the German Bundesliga will become the first major European football league to resume this weekend.

Teams will arrive separately, players will be tested weekly for Covid-19 and matches will be played behind closed doors but fans can still expect plenty of high-octane battles at the top and bottom of Germany’s elite division.

The Big Two

It does not take a Bundesliga expert to identify Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund as the division’s two heavyweight title challengers but it has been more competitive at the pinnacle of German football than in previous seasons.

Bayern Munich, equipped with attacking juggernaut Robert Lewandowski, who became the first player in Bundesliga history to score in each of the opening 11 matches of a season, started slowly. The Bavarians occupied top spot after only one of their opening 19 league assignments, spelling the end of Niko Kovac’s tenure.

Although armed with the electrifying England international Jadon Sancho, who has scored 14 goals and laid on 15 assists in the league this term, and January addition Erling Braut Haaland, who marked his Bundesliga debut with a 20-minute hat-trick, Dortmund could not capitalise.

Borussia Dortmund celebrate an Erling Haaland (right) goalCredit: Dean Mouhtaropoulos

Instead, it was Timo Werner-inspired Leipzig who were the season’s early pacesetters, winning 12 of their opening 18 fixtures. The Red Bulls are still in contention for the title in third, only five points off top spot, but bookmakers favour the ever-reliable Bavarians to come out on top.

Bayern, 2-9 to win an eighth successive title, have come into their own since changing manager and so positive has the transformation been under Hansi Flick, that the German was rewarded with a contract extension until June 2023 during the hiatus.

Dortmund are 11-2 and Leipzig are 10-1 and the three-way battle for the title may not be the foregone conclusion bookmakers anticipate.

Overachievers

Union Berlin made history when they became the first club from East Berlin to reach the Bundesliga with promotion last season and many expected they would have a short stay in the top flight.

But, sitting above the likes of big names Eintracht Frankfurt and Hertha Berlin after 25 games, the minnows, spearheaded by impressive striker Sebastian Andersson, have defied expectations. Home victories over Dortmund and Hertha reiterate they are not a side to take lightly.

Sebastian Andersson of Union Berlin runs with the ballCredit: Christof Koepsel

Bookmakers believe Borussia Monchengladbach, who are in fourth only six points off top spot but 100-1 to win the title, have gone as far as they can. But after losing key players Thorgan Hazard and Mickael Cuisane last summer, they have to be considered overachievers this campaign.

Underachievers

Werder Bremen had all the right ingredients to build on last term’s respectable eighth-placed finish, adding the experienced Omer Toprak, Niclas Fullkrug and Kevin Vogt to a promising squad.

But beyond the occasional mesmeric attacking performance from Kosovan star Milot Rashica, their season has been a complete failure. Currently 17th in the league standings, they are eight points adrift of safety and scored both the fewest goals (27) and conceded the most (55) in the division.

They have won only once at their Weserstadion home this term and the 5-0 thrashing by Mainz at home will be a particular lowlight. Bookmakers do not anticipate young manager Florian Kohfeldt, who has been involved with the club since 2006, can get them out of trouble, rating Bremen 4-9 for the drop with only Bundesliga new boys Paderborn (1-16) above them in the relegation outright market.

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