As second in the Champions League table, the German record champions are well on their way to avoiding the exhausting intermediate round of the premier class two match days before the end of the league phase. If you put all these aspects together, there is nothing to suggest a collapse, at least in national competition.
Instead, they will continue to march forward and set a new points record. The Munich team already has it themselves: in 2012/13, the team under Jupp Heynckes scored 91 points, an average of 2.68 per game. They are currently averaging 2.73 points per game in the league.
The performance of Christian Ilzer and TSG Hoffenheim cannot be rated highly enough. Fifth place, just two points behind Leipzig and qualification for the Champions League is more than in sight. At the end of the season they will be at least one place better and celebrate their move into the premier class. And that despite all the noise that could have caused a crash.
There was the temporary stadium ban of the controversial consultant Roger Wittmann and the rebellion of organized fans against patron Dietmar Hopp. The situation got even worse after managing directors Markus Schütz and Andreas Briel were dismissed due to their dispute with Wittmann. As a result, sports director Andreas Schicker was also faced with a move to VfL Wolfsburg, but in the end he decided to stay. None of this had any impact on the team or Christian Ilzer’s work.
TSG has a clear game idea and shows some decent offensive football. 29 goals is the fifth best attack in the league and with nine different goalscorers the team is not dependent on a top striker. In addition, Ilzer, who was still on the brink at the end of last season, has stabilized the defense. The Kraichgauers currently have the fourth best defense. With 68 goals conceded, Hoffenheim conceded the second most goals last season and barely stayed in 15th place in the league.