Bundesliga half-way state of play: race for German title is best in years

The race for the German Bundesliga title is the closest in years, with RB Leipzig leading the way and Bayern Munich, Gladbach, Dortmund, and Schalke close behind. Steve Davies takes a closer look at the contenders.

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RB Leipzig
1pt 11-4 Betway, Sky Bet

Bundesliga half-way state of play

Bayern Munich were shaken out of their comfort zone by Borussia Dortmund last season in what developed into an enthralling battle for the Bundesliga title, but that was merely a warm-up bout for the heavyweight scrap which is unfolding in 2019-20.

The German top flight returns from its winter break this weekend but neither Bayern nor Dortmund are setting the pace and seven points separate the top five clubs.

RB Leipzig, the rising force of German club football, are heading the way, two points clear of Borussia Monchengladbach, who last won the league in 1976-77 - the same season in which their head coach Marco Rose was born.

It’s another two points back to Bayern and three more to bitter rivals Dortmund and Schalke, the latter having been reborn under David Wagner.

Fans haven’t approached a Ruckrunde with this much anticipation since 2011-12 when the season resumed with just four points separating the top four sides, a gap that had narrowed to just one point after 19 games before Dortmund eventually pulled away.

That was the last season before the Bayern juggernaut truly shifted through the gears.

They have won each of the seven subsequent league titles by an aggregate margin of 102 points and, unsurprisingly given everything we know about them, are still odds-on to make it eight in a row.

And although they have ground to make up they have plenty going for them beyond mere pedigree.

It was a disrupted autumn in Munich, where Niko Kovac was replaced by Hansi Flick, an appointment which wasn’t universally celebrated but seems to have worked out.

Flick has won eight games out of ten and seems to have the unwavering support of the dressing room. He’s also been given a contract until the summer so stability can reign at the Allianz Arena.

He feels – and it’s a sentiment echoed by those above him – that he needs to sign players in January, something Bayern are habitually reluctant to do.

Yet he’s blessed with sumptuous attacking options behind 19-goal Robert Lewandowski, colossal experience in key departments and a number of talented youngsters breaking through, notably Alphonso Davies and Joshua Zirkzee.

A Bayern charge is the likeliest scenario over the coming months leaving punters to decide whether Leipzig can fend them off, whether Gladbach can stay the pace and whether Dortmund can somehow find a consistency to keep them involved.

Unless you foresee Bayern blowing the rest out of the water they are not an appealing price and Leipzig, with second and third-place finishes in two of the last three seasons, may be ready to take that next step.

Fear factor is ordinarily one of Bayern’s trump cards although Leipzig, under inspirational 32-year-old coach Julian Nagelsmann, won’t be bullied.

Everyone’s raving about Nagelsmann, about the way his side plays and the recruitment policies which have put the club into such a strong position at the mid-point.

Anger over skipper Diego Demme’s departure to Napoli will be tempered if top scorer Timo Werner resists inducements from England and Spain.

Defensively Leipzig are as good as anyone else in the Bundesliga and that’s despite Nagelsmann only being able to pair first-choice centre-backs Ibrahima Konate and Dayot Upamecano occasionally because of injuries. Lewandowski says it’s the best central defensive pairing in the league and few would disagree.

Apart from Monchengladbach fans perhaps, since they are proud owners of another formidable duo in recently named German player of the year Matthias Ginter and Swiss partner Nico Elvedi.

Gladbach bombed in the Europa League in the autumn and that could be a bonus with their three biggest rivals having Champions League commitments over coming weeks.

Dortmund have been a model of inconsistency over the first half of the campaign, and the pressure on coach Lucien Favre has rarely let up. It’s a backdrop that isn’t conducive to a title-winning season.

Favre is hoping the arrival of star striker Erling Haaland from Salzburg will give the club the boost it needs for the run-in.

Bundesliga Brits abroad

Ethan Ampadu RB Leipzig, 2019-20 Bundesliga appearances: 2

The Chelsea loanee has played more for Wales than RB Leipzig this season, managing just 48 minutes for the league leaders.

Ademola Lookman RB Leipzig, 2019-20 apps: 3

A loan star two seasons ago, Lookman then signed for £22m after floundering at Everton but has yet to ignite.

Keanan Bennetts Monchengladbach 2019-20 apps: 0

Injury-prone ex-Spurs youngster, now in his second season with the Foals who are looking to loan him out this month.

Jadon Sancho Borussia Dortmund 2019-20 apps: 15

Much-sought after England international who has scored nine goals in 15 for Dortmund, where he is a star.

Jonjoe Kenny Schalke 2019-20 apps: 17

The Everton defender has slotted straight in at Schalke. He has started all 17 matches at right-back, scoring one goal.

Rabbi Matondo Schalke 2019-20 apps: 8

After a loan spell last season, the Wales international and former Manchester City hopeful has signed a four-year deal with Schalke.

Reece Oxford Augsburg 2019-20 apps: 8

Still only 21, he made his West Ham debut more than five years ago and has made two starts this season for Augsburg.

Lewis Baker Fortuna Dusseldorf 2019-20 apps: 8

The daddy of the Brits abroad at 24, his love affair with Dusseldorf is over after he was sent back to Chelsea.

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