Welcome to the Bundesliga, where the fans own at least 51% of the team, and scream and jump the whole game. The Bundesliga title race features a four-point gap at the top. The hyper-competitiveness draws intrigue from viewers all around the world. The fan-owned clubs of German football and its inclusive culture are huge positives. However, one quick look at the salaries of each team and the inequalities present themselves. Bayern Munich pays more in salary than the 2nd and 3rd most clubs combined. Up until last year, Bayern had won 11 straight Bundesliga titles.
Despite this, there is a title race and other rich stories down the league table. Due to the Bundesliga taking a couple of weeks off during the winter, it provides a perfect time to analyze and shed light on the league.
Omar Marmoush, Take a Bow
Born in Cairo, and having come up through Wolfsburg academy, Omar Marmoush arrived at Frankfurt as a free transfer in the summer of 2023. After registering more goal involvements last season than he did in any of his previous four Bundesliga seasons, Marmoush has exploded this season.
He’s scored 13 goals and laid on 7 assists. He scored three free-kick goals in three consecutive games. He’s powered Eintracht Frankfurt into third in the table. Marmoush is thriving next to Hugo Ekitike, also having a breakout year.
Marmoush is tied for first in the assist leader race and second in the Bundesliga Golden Boot race. He must try to push favorite Harry Kane, who scored 14 in 13 games.
The reality of modern football is that Marmoush will likely be a hot commodity come next summer. Frankfurt is a selling club and wouldn’t hesitate to let him go if a club paid top dollar. The storyline of Marmoush replacing fellow Egyptian Mo Salah at Liverpool might be too good to pass up.
Leverkusen are Heating up
Bayer Leverkusen lost one game across all competitions last season. In the Bundesliga, they finished undefeated and 17 points ahead of runners-up Stuttgart. No one expected them to continue their form from last season. However, after drawing five of six matches, there were legit questions about this Leverkusen side losing their aura.
Since then, they’ve reeled off five straight Bundesliga wins, and eight in all competitions including wins over Bayern Munich in the Cup and Inter Milan in the Champions League.
Leverkusen is four points off the top, and their best player, Florian Wirtz, is starting to be great again. Despite rumors of head coach Xabi Alonso leaving, Leverkusen can use the “last dance” mantra for this group in the second half of the season.
BVB Struggling Again in the Bundesliga
Last year, Borussia Dortmund finished fifth in the Bundesliga, which is not great considering their budget and expenditures in the previous summer. However, their season was saved due to their Champions League final run.
They fired their manager and replaced him with former player Nuri Sahin, who has never managed in a top-five league before. Replacing the guy who got you to the final of the Champions League with a relatively inexperienced manager is certainly a choice.
BVB has struggled with consistency just like last year. Their signature Bundesliga result is a home draw against Bayern Munich. They’ve lost four games away from home. Unlike previous years with Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, and Jadon Sancho, there isn’t a star young player you can point to.
Even worse for Dortmund is that they aren’t fun to watch. They’ve scored 28 goals in 15 Bundesliga games. They scored 68 last year. Nothing about the manager change has worked, and history with managerial changes usually shows promise early.
The Bundesliga is Harry Kane’s Only Chance at a Trophy…This Season
Harry Kane has scored 64 goals in 65 games for Bayern Munich since arriving in the summer of 2023. He’s England’s all-time scorer and recently received a second runners-up medal for England in last summer’s Euros.
Bayern Munich were knocked out of the DFB Pokal by Leverkusen earlier this month. They have lost twice in six games in the Champions League and sit 10th. Munich’s only Bundesliga loss came when Kane was out injured.
In the 13 games Kane has played, he’s registered 14 goals and 5 assists. Kane is integral to Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga title challenge. He helped manager Vincent Kompany ease into his first season at the club.
Bayern do not look like they can win the Champions League this season. Kompany is too inexperienced as a manager to win tough knockout games. However, the Bundesliga is suited to Kompany’s style of play. Kompany’s team thrives when they can dominate possession and pin teams back in their defensive end.
Harry Kane has never won a trophy, he’s certainly a player who deserves one and he might have to carry Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga title this season.
Pellegrino Matarazzo Played Himself
In early August Hoffenheim’s manager was linked to the vacant US Men’s soccer manager position. Matarazzo didn’t take the job, despite being born in New Jersey and having attended and played soccer at Columbia University
Matarazzo led Hoffenheim up to seventh last season, qualifying for the Europa League. Entering this season, Hoffenheim lost star striker Max Beier to Dortmund. Beier scored 16 goals for Hoffenheim last season. His replacement Adam Hlozek scored seven in two seasons for Leverkusen.
Maybe Matarazzo could’ve seen a drop-off coming? Well, he didn’t. After 10 Bundesliga games, Hoffenheim had nine points. Matarazzo was fired. Hoffenheim have five points in the five games since.
Matarazzo should still be viewed as a future USMNT manager. He is still young and will only learn from this experience. With Pochetinno likely gone after the 2026 World Cup, Matarazzo might not have to wait long to get a second chance to take the USMNT job.
Conclusion
A close title race? Yes. A close relegation race? Yes. Are European spots still up for grabs? Yes. The Bundesliga has everything still to play for. With great young players and great attacking teams, the question isn’t whether you will watch, but how much Bundesliga you will consume.
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Featured Image: Photo by Joern Pollex/Getty Images
