Bundesliga: There have been goals scored aplenty in Germany

Bayern Munich are doing their best to intimidate the rest of Europe with an emerging trophy collection as their young stars shine bright, writes Ian Hawkey.

Javi Martinez, right, is one of Bayern Munich’s young stars who could keep the club on top for many years to come.  Frank Augstein / AP Photo
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Seventy-three fixtures had been completed in the Bundesliga before, at Werder Bremen on match-day nine, in the second half of October, the visit of Freiburg registered something hitherto unrecorded in the 2013/14 league campaign: a goalless draw.

There have been four more since, but that is still a very low ratio of 0-0 stalemates in the calendar, and an obvious advertisement for the entertainment quality offered on a typical top-flight German weekend.

Rarely has a Bundesliga season begun with such confident muscle-flexing. Fresh from sending two clubs to Wembley for what was a high-quality Uefa Champions League final, and amid celebrations for the 50th anniversary of its elite professional league, the Bundesliga began with plenty of goals.

At its halfway stage, spectators can still expect to see an average of more than three per game, considerably higher than the other top six leagues in Europe.

But can they expect a genuinely tight title contest?

Bayern Munich, who at the weekend in Morocco added the Club World Cup to their Champions League, European Super Cup, Bundesliga and German Cup crowns, are also the “winter champions” and from all other 17 clubs in the division is heard a weary resignation about the apparent inevitability of the Bavarians’ successful defence of their domestic title.

Unbeaten, Bayern will resume the season seven points clear of closest challengers Bayer Leverkusen, with a game in hand. Pep Guardiola’s Bayern squad have depth, and have perceptibly shifted in playing style since the former Barcelona coach took over from Jupp Heynckes. They can occasionally look loose at the back but, having dropped only four points domestically, they have not been hurt by that.

They are a group with a potentially dazzling long-term future too, with young players like David Alaba, Mario Gotze, Javi Martinez, Xherdan Shaqiri and Thiago developing rapidly.

Jurgen Klopp’s Dortmund, champions in 2011 and 2012, do not have the same depth and have not perceptibly shifted in playing style. Their high-voltage pressing and high-speed counter-attacking imposes huge physical demands on the personnel and symptoms of fatigue are increasingly apparent.

Dortmund will be relieved at the length of the Bundesliga’s New Year break – it lasts into the third week of January – so they can rest and recuperate.

The battle for places two, three and four – passports to next season’s Champions League – should be fiercely fought, with Leverkusen maturing under Sami Hyypia, Borussia Monchengladbach competitive and the well-funded Wolfsburg finding some overdue stability.

In Europe, too, the Bundesliga can feel pleased with itself. Four clubs are through to the last 16 of the Champions League, and one of them, Bayern, are favourites to win.

Star of the season

Franck Ribery. Brilliant last season and just as effective in making Bayern winter champions under the new coach Pep Guardiola. The France winger will be miffed if he does not win the Ballon d’Or.

Flop of the season

Hamburg. When only four points from their first five matches left them 15th in the table, the coach Thorsten Fink was fired. Bert van Marwijk, World Cup finalist with Holland in 2010, came in. Maddeningly inconsistent, they now stand … 14th.

Surprise of the season

Sami Hyypia. In his first season in sole charge as coach, the Finn, above, negotiated Bayer Leverkusen though a tough Champions League group and into a surprise second in the table.

Game of the season

Borussia Dortmund 6, Hamburg 2. A demonstration of Dortmund’s power, speed and devastating energy, albeit against badly organised opposition. Dortmund have since struggled to rediscover their typical verve.

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