The German Bundesliga kicks off on Aug. 9, with Pep Guardiola making his much anticipated official debut as Bayern Munich manager at the Allianz Arena against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Title chasers
Bayern Munich: Pep Guardiola inherits a team that has just won a historic treble, knocking Barcelona of its perch as the standard of success. The outgoing Jupp Heynckes leaves behind an impressive squad that will have to adapt to a new style and manager. Some players have already been deployed out of position in pre-season, others not at all – the most notable being the club’s inspirational captain and fan favourite Bastian Schweinsteiger. The new manager has already stuck his neck out by convincing the club to shell out $33.2 million for Thiago Alcantara from Barcelona. Expect big things from Swiss winger Xherdan Shaqiri, who will be given a more prominent role this season. Bayern can attack down the middle, from the wings, and basically at will with a star-studded line-up. Taking their crown away from them will be extremely difficult, though should a transitional phase linger, the race for the title will be a lot closer.
Borussia Dortmund: Jurgen Klopp has spent a club record $66.5 million this summer to strengthen a side that finished 25 points behind champions Bayern Munich last season. Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Sokratis Papastathopoulos were all brought in to the fold, strengthening an already solid core group to challenge Bayern. Despite being forced into selling Mario Gotze to the Bavarians, the club received a big windfall ($49 million) and put it to good use. They’ve already registered one over on their adversaries, winning 4-2 to lift the German Supercup. The ongoing Robert Lewandowski saga has cast a negative shadow, as he continues to push for a move to Bayern. Losing a second top performer would make the hill a little bit steeper. Having a weapon like Marco Reus has its benefits, so it’s not a total catastrophe. Dortmund has the muscle to challenge for their third Bundesliga title in four years.
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European places
Borussia Mönchengladbach: It was inevitable that the club would have difficulty sustaining the same form that saw them finish fourth in 2012. A top-half finish (eighth) was a decent result for Lucien Favre last season, especially after selling Marco Reus to Dortmund. As far as additions, Favre was able to entice attacking midfielder Raffael that his future is with Gladbach, having discovered the Brazilian playmaker in 2005 while managing FC Zurich. The best news for Die Fohlen supporters was the club’s ability to retain goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, despite rumoured interest from a number of top teams. The German international is integral to the squad, and is arguably one of the best ‘keepers in Europe. Forward Luuk De Jong, last year’s big-money signing ($16 million), will look to rediscover his scoring touch and have a breakout sophomore season in the Bundesliga, and strike up a partnership with new signing Max Kruse.
VfB Stuttgart: Despite finishing twelfth last season, a Europa League place was clinched by finishing runners-up to Bayern Munich in the German Cup. Bruno Labbadia watched his side struggle in the Bundesliga to score goals, barely averaging a goal-a-game (37). Bosnian striker Vedad Ibisevic scored almost half (15) of the team’s total output, making Stuttgart a one-trick pony. Labbadia has signed Mohammed Abdellaoue and loanee Moritz Leitner this summer, hoping to add more potency to a dismal offence. Expect to see a difference on the pitch and in the standings.
Hamburg SV: A respectable seventh place finish last season renewed confidence, after almost being relegated the previous year. Thornsten Fink will have his work cut out for him, considering the club needs to slash their wage bill and sell before they are in a position to buy players. Heung-min Son has already been sold to Bayer Leverkusen for around $13 million. The South Korean forward scored 12 goals last year, and leaves Fink with a dilemma up front, with only Latvian striker Artjoms Rudnevs (12 goals) remaining. There has been dialogue with Everton for the potential purchase of Nikica Jelevic, though more sales need to be completed before the transfer can be made. However, Fink was able to add Cameroon striker Jacques Zoua from former club FC Basel for a modest $1.3 million. Regardless of their current financial climate, Hamburg should be up among the clubs battling for Europe.
Bayern Leverkusen: Sami Hyypia achieved a very respectable third place finish in his first year as full-time manager, and is eager to guide Leverkusen past the group stage of this season’s Champions League. The Factory Squad — as they’re known in Germany — compiled the second-best home record in the Bundesliga last year, just behind champions Bayern Munich. Leverkusen also had the third-best offence (65 goals) and the second-best defence with only 39 conceded. Hyypia strengthened an already formidable defensive core with the addition of Emre Can and Emir Saphic over the off-season. And despite selling German international Andre Schurrle to Chelsea for $30 million, the club was able lock down Bundesliga top-scorer Stefan Kiessling (25 goals) to a contract extension. The signing of Heung-min Son will also help Leverkusen challenge for the top-four.
Schalke 04: Six wins from their first nine matches had Huub Steven’s side in second place at the end of October last season. However, the wheels came off quickly, with the next eight games producing two wins and costing Stevens his job. Jens Keller took the reins for the second-half of the campaign, and rejuvenated the squad by earning 30 points from the final 17 games. The new season brings with it high expectations, though a title challenge is overly ambitious. Schalke are realistically aiming for third place and a guaranteed place in the group stages of the Champions League. Brazilian defender Felipe Santana was purchased from bitter rivals Dortmund for just over $1 million. But their biggest outlay was spent on Hungarian striker Adam Szalai. Hanging onto German youth prodigy Julian Draxler was also a huge bonus, as the club was able to lock him down on a new contract with a $60 million release clause, after reported interest from Real Madrid and Manchester City.
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The in-betweeners
Mainz 05: Summer sales have turned profit, but the club’s chances at a top-half finish is now questionable. Last season’s top-scorer Adam Szalai (13 goals) was sold to Schalke for $10.6 million, with Dani Schahin brought in as a direct replacement for $2 million from relegated Fortuna Dusseldorf. Manager Thomas Tushel also added winger Shinji Okazaki for a similar fee from Stuttgart. Mediocrity looms large for a third successive season for Mainz. Tushel overachieved once before in 2011, leading the club to its best placing (fifth) in the league and breaking into Europe. However, lighting only strikes once.
Hannover 96: A ninth place finish was an admirable result to last season, especially when you consider their horrendous away record. Die Roten amassed 12 defeats away from home — more than any team that avoided the drop. Surprisingly, Hannover collected eight clean sheets, despite having the third-worst defensive record (62 goals). Luckily, a potent offence was able to bail out obvious shortcomings at the back. Mame Biram Diouf was the only player to hit double figures (12 goals), but the club may be ready to cash in with Stoke City rumoured to be interested. With the $4.6 million sale of forward Mohammed Abdellaoue, who chipped in with eight goals last year, manager Mirko Slomka may be left a little thin up front. After failing to breakthrough into the first-team at Dortmund, midfielder Leonardo Bittencourt will be given a desired role and opportunity to maximize his potential.
VfL Wolfsburg: Three home victories all of last season is simply not good enough. Volkswagen Arena was anything but a fortress, as Die Wolfe only managed to collect 17 points in as many matches. The only other club to have a worse home record was relegated Greuther Furth. The club had three separate managers last year, starting with Felix Magath’s departure after eight games (collecting only five points). Lorenz-Gunther Kostner took charge for a couple of months before the hiring of Dieter Hecking following the winter break. Under Hecking, Wolfsburg did manage to play better and earn satisfactory results in the second-half of the season (24 points from 17 matches). Unfortunately, their poor performance in the first half of the campaign left little room for a resurgence, and they ended up finishing in 14th place. Their biggest acquisition this off-season was centre-back Timm Klose from Nurnberg ($8 million), as they attempt to fill the void left from the sale of Simon Kjaer to Lille.
Werder Bremen: A new season brings a new manager, with Robin Dutt taking the reins at the end of May. The previous campaign ended in disappointment, with Bremen finishing fourteenth and only four points clear of unimaginable relegation under long-serving manager Thomas Schaff, who left by mutual consent after 14 years at the club. Obvious frailties at the back caused problems last season, as they owned the second-worst defensive record in the Bundesliga (66 goals conceded), and collected only four clean sheets. Although they made $12.6 million from the sale of Greek defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos to Dortmund, his departure will be felt on the pitch. On the opposite end, the acquisition of forward Nils Petersen from Bayern Munich will be beneficial.
Eintracht Frankfurt: After guiding the club back to the Bundesliga in his first season as manager, Armin Veh surprised many by achieving a sixth place finish and a Europa League play-off spot last season. The feat was remarkable considering a modest budget, though the club’s following is one of the largest in Germany. A seven-match undefeated run at Commerzbank-Arena to start the season helped, as did the 16 goals scored by Alexander Meier from midfield — third-best in the league. Domestic ambitions this season will be dictated by their travels in Europe. Should they beat Greek opponents Atromitos over two legs and make it into the group phase, the repercussions could be substantial, and a relegation struggle looms large.
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Relegation battle
TSV Eintracht Braunschweig: After 28 years out of the top division, one of the Bundesliga’s founding members has returned, with a much anticipated Lower Saxon derby against rivals Hannover being the most mouth-watering for the supporters. Former club midfielder turned youth team coach Torsten Lieberknecht has overseen the steady climb back up the German football pyramid since taking over as senior manager in the summer of 2008. Die Lowen’s recent resurgence and success is directly attributed to Liberknecht’s hard work and dedication. Eintracht-Stadion was a fortress, witnessing only one defeat last season, and a strong away record helped also helped. Life in the Bundesliga may come as a rude awakening, with depth a major concern. Good news is that striker Dominick Kumbela is back and targeting a similar goal-haul as last year’s golden-boot winning performance (19) in the German second division.
FC Augsburg: A dramatic victory on the final day secured the club’s Bundesliga status for another season. After a horrendous first-half campaign, where only nine points were accumulated from a possible 51, relegation seemed almost certain. Somehow Markus Weinzierl steered Augsburg clear of the dreaded drop, despite his side averaging less than a goal-a-game. The entire campaign was spent in the relegation zone, only surfacing to safety on the last match-day. Another agonizing season awaits the club’s supporters. A lack of goal production is the main issue. Sascha Molders was the only player to hit double-digits, scoring 10 of the club’s 33 league goals. The addition of veteran Halil Altintop on a free transfer should help, though it’s not nearly enough to avoid a relegation struggle.
Nurnberg: Back-to-back mid-table finishes have followed an impressive top-six showing in 2011. Michael Wiesinger managed a two-point improvement last season from the previous 10th place campaign. Not one player scored in double-digits, but the club has shown initiative by luring striker Daniel Ginczek from Dortmund for a very affordable rate ($2 million). The German youth international scored 18 goals in 31 matches on loan at second-tier St. Pauli last season. His addition will compliment another budding talent within the squad, giving attacking midfielder Hiroshi Kiyotake an adequate outlet to play off in the offensive zone. Kiyotake netted four times last year, but more impressively notched 10 assists. On the defensive side, veteran Emanuel Pogatetz has joined on a free transfer from Wolfsburg. Although there might be some reason for optimism, Nurnburg are well short of challenging for anything other than survival.
Hertha Berlin: Promotion to the top-tier was secured with a month and four matches to spare, as the club lifted their second 2.Bundesliga title in three seasons. Depending on how you look at it, the silverware is a sign of success or failure. The up-and-down cycle of relegation and promotion has been a tough pill to swallow for the club’s fan base. However, it’s unfair to overlook their dominant display last year. Die Alte Dame (The Old Lady) cruised to the second-tier championship with an undefeated home record, 12 wins from 17 matches, including a league best 65 goals and a superior defensive record with only 28 conceded. The partnership of Brazilian midfielder Ronny and Colombian striker Adrian Ramos was vital to the cause, combining to score 29 goals. Since finishing rock-bottom of the Bundesliga in 2010, Hertha has failed to retain their top-flight status after gaining promotion.
SC Freiburg: Manager Christian Streich fell one win shy of achieving the unthinkable, losing to Schalke on the final match-day of last season and missing out on a Champions League spot. The club’s fifth place position was its best showing in the Bundesliga since 1995, and a place in the Europa League group stage was a well-deserved consolation prize. It was the first time Freiburg has ventured into Europe in 11 years. What comes next is the tough part: duplicating results. The financial gain earned from an extended run in Europe’s second-rate competition isn’t worth the threat of a relegation battle on the domestic front. It really depends on how Streich will balance his resources. Max Kruse, the club’s joint top-scorer (11) and assist leader (eight) last season, was sold to Mönchengladbach. One to watch is Arsenal loanee Francis Cocquelin, who will be looking to make the most of first-team opportunities in the Bundesliga.
TSG Hoffenheim: Disaster was narrowly avoided and a sixth season in the Bundesliga was eventually confirmed through a relegation playoff victory over Kaiserslautern. Four different coaches in one season is always going to have a negative effect on team chemistry, and dictate poor results. Markus Gisdol did his best to secure 11 points from seven matches, steadying the ship enough to stay afloat. Defensively, they were a mess, conceding a league-high 68 goals, averaging almost two goals-a-game on the season. Nothing has been done to offset this glaring problem. The biggest addition has been French striker Anthony Modeste, though his attributes will do very little to fix the team’s defensive frailties.
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