Guten Abend! How are you? Hope everything is good, so today we travel from fabulous France to the Great Germany! In this part of 'Performance Predictor' we will starting previewing the Bundesliga starting off alphabetically the first four teams include the big two, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, this will be a great start to the Bundesliga series!
FC Augsburg
Last season: 14th
Star man: Ja-Cheol Koo
Unsung hero: Simon Jentzsch
Prediction for this season: Relegation.
FC Augsburg have got off to a poor start this year and believe it is the start of things to come. They have no real outstanding talent in the squad, a good signing though in Ja-Cheol Koo who impressed for South Korea in the Olympic tournament. Apart from this they lack any real inspiration anywhere on the pitch. So their unsung hero this season will probably be goalkeeper Simon Jentzsch, who will be a busy bee most games and he will have to be on top form to have any hope of staying up. The other glimmer of glimmer of hope is experienced centre back Gibril Sankoh, who was very steady last year, but whether he can produce this form again this year remains to be seen.
Bayer Leverkusen
Last season: 5th.
Star man: Andre Schürlle
Unsung hero: Bernd Leno
Prediction for this season: Europa League places.
Leverkusen are a strange team, able to surprise the bigger teams in the league but then fail to get a result against the so called easier teams. Their team is plentiful in talent, especially with Toprak, Leno and Schürlle. Leno was excellent last season, earning alot of plaudits from his peers for some outstanding performances which saved Leverkusen on countless occasions. Such is the talent in Germany's goalkeeping ranks that he wasn't even in the provisional squad for the European Championships. While Toprak is the cover infront of him, Andre Schürlle provides the threat upfront. He is capable to play anywhere across the front line, on the wings and as a striker himself. He has the pace to trouble any defender coupled with his fantastic finishing and work-rate he is a defenders nightmare.
Bayern Munich
Last season: Runners up.
Star man: Mario Mandzukic
Unsung hero: Holger Badstuber
Prediction for this season: Runners up.
Last year's 'nearly team' coming second in the Bundesliga, the Champions League and the DFB Pokal. However, with the signing of Javi Martinez from Athletic Bilbao they have signaled their intent to end Dortmund's run at the top of German football. Bayern have quality from top to bottom, one of the finest goalkeepers in the world, if not the finest. The have a defence that would make any team envious, with legend Philip Lahm, two solid centre backs that are the impressive Dante signed from Monchengladbach and then the ever reliable Holger Badstuber, who kept the greatest strikers in the world quiet last year. Whilst their midfield and front line is one of the most feared in the world, obviously 'Robbery', Schweinsteiger and Gomez are the immediate thoughts but for me Toni Kroos and Mario Manzukic are key players also. Mandzukic had a great Euro's and has been able to continue that form as Gomez has been injured, allowing him to cement a starting place. While Toni Kroos is one of the most exciting talents coming out of Germany at the moment, able to shoot and pass aswell as being an excellent dribbler.
Borussia Dortmund
Last season: Champions
Star man: Mario Götze
Unsung hero: Sebastian Kehl
Prediction for this season: Champions.
Borussia Dortmund have been the undoubted top dogs in German football, claiming the league for the past two years with conviction and also secured a first League and Cup double with a 5-2 win over Bayern Munich. Die Schwarz-gelb are also closing in on a full calendar year unbeaten if they avoid defeat in their next two games, they will achieve the magnificent feat! Dortmund's brilliant passing football and high pressing style is hard not to admire and it all starts off from the solid back-line and into captain Kehl, who holds the midfield together, acting as a screen for BVB's defence. While upfront Mario Götze's creativity is second to none, his dazzling dribbling is a feat to behold. When he comes on he seems to light the touch paper and Dortmund kick into life and become an unstoppable force. The title race will go right down to the wire this year, with both teams looking impressive in their opening games.
So that's the start of the Bundesliga! Hopefully you all enjoyed and I should be back with another one tomorrow, I may struggle to get out as many posts as I would like as I have 7 games this month and school's started back, but I shall try my best!
Thanks for all the support, we're nearly at 2,000 views!
Jonathan.
Follow me on Twitter: @JWalsh97
