analysis
Only in the course of the first half of the season did it become clear that only Munich and Leverkusen were eligible for the cup. The rest of the competition in the Bundesliga lacks consistency and class.
Thomas Müller’s expression after the last game of the year revealed a mixture of concern and dismay. The 35-year-old, who knows how to express the mood at FC Bayern like no other, had just found out what happened in Magdeburg on Friday evening (December 20, 2024).
And he, the all-rounder who was always in a good mood, knew that the record champions’ thrilling performance against RB Leipzig (5:1) should only be a side note after a shocking attack. Those responsible in Munich also quickly realized that a lavish Christmas party was forbidden.
Nevertheless, the signal sent from Munich on matchday 15 was of course clear. If the so-called salad bowl will be presented on the last matchday on May 17, 2025, the DFL managing directors Marc Lenz and Steffen Merkel should please show up in Sinsheim, where Bayern will compete.
And not like on May 18th of this year in Leverkusen, where the overwhelming joy over the historic coup somehow spread to everyone who hadn’t been able to do much with the Werkself until then.
Bayer Leverkusen is lying in wait
The fact that Leverkusen are playing intoxicatingly beautiful football in an almost unchanged formation under maestro Xabi Alonso has once again provided plenty of evidence of this this season. Most recently, Florian Wirtz delighted with four assists against SC Freiburg (5:1).
Although the club could not confirm that the early contract extension with the exceptional talent has been finalized. So there is at least plenty of evidence that the 21-year-old can conjure up another season under the Bayer Cross. In any case, Leverkusen has the qualities to end up at the top again in the end. Just like Borussia Dortmund broke into the Bavarian phalanx twice in 2011 and 2012.
Exceptional talent in action: Florian Wirtz shoots at the SC Freiburg goal
Vincent Kompany conveys more fun
Sure, the Munich team deserved the four point lead as the more consistent team in the Bundesliga (not the Champions League). Apart from the recent slip-up in the high-stress phase against the rebellious surprise team from FSV Mainz 05 (1:2), Bayern are more greedy again under coach Vincent Kompany.
It could be that the Belgian conveys more fun and more willingness in everyday life. But it is also logical that the previous season, which was messed up by Munich standards, in third place naturally aroused the ambition.
Future of Joshua Kimmich and Jamal Musiala unclear
Nobody embodied the determination in the first half of the season better than Joshua Kimmich, who within a few months had put himself in the best possible negotiating position regarding his expiring contract. It would be fatal if Bayern lost this manager.
The future of Jamal Musiala, whom Bayern have tied until 2026, is also unclear, but sports director Max Eberl would rather have the second German hope for world championship dreams in 2026 under contract as a long-term identification figure today rather than tomorrow.
The package for the 21-year-old, who now also has headers in his repertoire, is likely to cost Bayern a three-digit million sum, but why does the club now make more than a billion euros in sales with all its subsidiaries.
Borussia Dortmund remains a surprise bag
Speaking of money: The generous donations from the Champions League ensure that, alongside Bayern and Bayer, Leipzig and Dortmund also have an almost natural claim to a top spot. After a slump in the autumn, which also got coach Marco Rose into trouble, the brewery club is still in the green zone in fourth place. But not BVB, who, as Champions League finalists, are only hibernating in sixth place.
Only two days before Christmas there was their first away win on Sunday against VfL Wolfsburg (3:1). The primary goal for the new coach Nuri Sahin is to ensure participation in the premier class. It will be difficult enough for the black and yellow, who will probably remain a surprise bag even after the turn of the year.
Eintracht Frankfurt ran out of steam in December
With a budget of well over 300 million euros, Eintracht Frankfurt is now also in the top third thanks to regular European Cup participation, clever scouting and high transfer revenues. The Adlerträger were the first pursuers of Bayern for a long time, playing lively attacking football before the team ran out of steam with a large number of exciting, promising players.
Five competitive games – most recently the grotesquely lost duel against Mainz (1:3) – without a win in December clouded the starting position. Even Omar Marmoush, the second best shooter (13 goals) behind goalkeeper Harry Kane (14 goals), lost his effectiveness. The suspicion is that Eintracht still lacks the consistency for the dream of a second championship after 1959, which is always present in Frankfurt. And of course a bit of class too.