Surprises, crises, and fallen giant: The first half of the season, the League was eventful. We look back on what has happened in the League, and what awaits us in the new year.
The Table Leader
Since the 16th century. Round, had to accept the BVB in Düsseldorf, the first defeat of the season, is clear: Dortmund is not invincible. But the autumn master was clearly the best Team in the first half of the season, thanks to a brilliant run of twelve Wins and three draws in their first 15 Games. The Coaching methods of Lucien Favre, the commitment of Top-Joker Paco Alcacer, the injury-free captain Marco Reus, who became the real Leader and the rapid development of young talent, led by Jadon Sancho, led to BVB after a turbulent season 2017/18 to be one of the most exciting and offensively exciting Teams in Europe.
Before the season, committed to the Swiss coach and his Team had to the game in Düsseldorf is an impressive run. The setback in Düsseldorf is not made for uncertainty, such as the subsequent victory against Borussia Mönchengladbach. The question remains: How Favre’s team will respond to potential setbacks? To be able to offset the Team’s potential violations of power and how the young team with the increased pressure and the triple burden in the second half of the season will be finished? One thing is certain for sure: In the development of Favre and his Team are ahead of schedule.
The Master
Niko Kovac stand in the meantime, before the dismissal, but with Bayern the curve
In the last few years delivery schedule for the FC Bayern in the Bundesliga. But in the first half of the season 2018/19 was felt in the team and throughout the club a certain amount of tension. According to the with the 5:1 in the Supercup against his former club Frankfurt successful debut as Bayern coach it was for Niko Kovac and his Team between September and October, a series of four Games without a win for many Teams, nothing that doesn’t occur, for the Bavarians, however, a solid crisis.
Similar to the German national team in the international match of the year 2018, the Bayern had a slow, indecisive old and suddenly vulnerable. Joachim Loew at the DFB also Kovac has started to rejuvenate the Team. And all of a sudden results and performance to be voted in again. after Dortmund’s defeat in Düsseldorf, Germany, Bavaria, scented a little in the morning air. Niko Kovac then spoke of “an invitation, we had to make the very Best”. Said and done. With Liverpool, the record Champions moved into the Champions League a very tough go in the League, the Kovac must be Team of the second one of the second round, when the competition to stumble. Usually, the FC Bayern is the always.
The Tracker
During a real title fight is a really welcome change, is the struggle for the European ranks actually traditionally exciting affair. Since the 2018/19 season makes no exception: Borussia mönchengladbach impressed as home-Makes, Hoffenheim with a wild attacking style, and Frankfurt with its furious Offensive Department to Luka Jovic and Sebastien Haller and came towards the end of the first half of the season, the steady rise of the VfL Wolfsburg. All of this has helped to establish itself behind the top Trio, there is a close competition. Only nine points separate fourth-placed RB Leipzig-Werder Bremen at rank ten. Now a wider battle for the fourth Champions League place and the Europa League-spots, and maybe the one or the other team can attack even the leading trio.
The Disappointments
Hard times at Schalke: To the runner-up championship 2017/18, it was time for coach Tedesco and his Team rapidly downhill
In the last season, the FC Schalke of Domenico belonged to Tedesco in the leading group: A well-organized defense, strong Team spirit and the impermanence of the other helped the Royal Blues to 2017/18 for the Vice-championship. Of this period of Success there is nothing left, Schalke plays a grotto in a bad season. The back of the Tedesco Team is no longer stable, the front is largely harmless. An alternative System, the young coach of the Vice-master, has not the Council of Europe.
Schalke do not need to improve everywhere, to be permanently in the relegation whirlpool. Similar disappointing Bayer Leverkusen, which has some of the best attackers in the League in its ranks, but this season a lot of difficulties presented themselves. Julian Brandt and Leon Bailey – two of the best offensive players in the last season, have scored only two goals. Coach Heiko Herrlich has to make the Dutch international Peter Bosz place.
The Basement
As the race for Europe is decided in a relegation battle, yet nothing, but Nürnberg and Hannover have after the first half of the season, the biggest Concerns. Nürnberg have not won since September, has the worst defense in the League and the second worst attack. Nevertheless, the residue a is not a descent place is currently only four points.
The Outstanding
Luka Jovic (bottom right), and Sebastien Haller (above right), together with Ante Recic Frankfurt’s miracle-Offensive
The success of the BVB is to the success of many, but it is emblematic for the fast and furious Dortmund’s first half of the season, Marco Reus, Jadon Sancho and Paco Alcacer, the form of 29 the outstanding attacking trio in the League. But perhaps even more impressive, and certainly surprising Frankfurt Trio, consisting of Sebastian Haller, Luka Jovic and Ante Rebic, who achieved together so far, 26 goals. And, even though they together account for less than 10 million Euro cost.
Otherwise: Thorgan Hazard is noticed at Gladbach extremely positive and could even step out of the shadow of brother Eden. On the outside of the BVB and the 20-year-old Real-loan Achraf Hakimi has left a powerful impression, Joshua Kimmich has proven itself in spite of the temporary Bayern lows absolutely, while Salif Sané for Schalke was one of the few bright spots. Joelinton and Kerem Demirbay have impressed at Hoffenheim, especially, Timo Werner has left a weak world Cup successfully behind and to found in Leipzig old strength back and Alassane Plea in Gladbach so long yearned for a classic penalty area striker – a real Neuner is, even though he is wearing at the Borussia shirt number 14.