Can Bayern maintain their momentum? – Bundesliga 2019/20 Roundup

Right before the coronavirus pandemic brought all sport to a shuddering halt, the Bundesliga was in one of its most interesting seasons in years.

The last time Bayern Munich failed to win the Bundesliga title was 2011/12. Not only that, all bar one of their 7 consecutive victories was via a double-digit lead at the top of the table, including 2012/13’s 25 point romp and 2017/18’s 21 point triumph. And even though they only narrowly saw off Borussia Dortmund by 2 points last season, they were still 12 points clear of 3rd place RB Leipzig.

Well, Bayern haven’t had it all their own in 2019/20. With the exception of one brief week at the end of September, it took until February 1st for the defending champions to claw their way back to 1st place, after suffering a serious wobble in the final quarter of last year.

It’s led to one of the tightest title races in arguably more than a decade. Bayern sit top of the table with 55 points, followed by Dortmund on 51, RB Leipzig on 50 and Borussia Monchengladbach on 49. Even 5th place Bayer Leverkusen aren’t completely out of the running on 47 points.

Pre-break Bayern were, admittedly, looking increasingly unstoppable. They had 10 wins in 11, the only blemish a goalless draw at home to Leipzig. And in Robert Lewandowski they have the top scorer in Germany, and the 2nd highest scorer across Europe’s Big 5 leagues, with only Ciro Immobile’s 27 goals more than the Polish ace’s 25.

Of course, there hasn’t been a game in Germany since early-March. That means it is no guarantee Bayern can continue their dominant form across the next couple of months. Who knows how the pandemic has impacted clubs psychologically. And they’ve got some interesting fixtures coming up.

Though they should beat mid-table Union Berlin on Sunday, a week later they are hosting Eintracht Frankfurt, a side that shockingly hammered them 5-1 at the start of November. May 26th then sees a trip to Borussia Dortmund, while the transition from May to June sees back-to-back fixtures against Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach – the last 2 teams to defeat Bayern in the Bundesliga.

At the other end of the table, it is going to be hard for the bottom three to change their fates. In 18th place, SC Paderborn look like they’re heading straight back to the 2. Bundesliga, with only 16 points in 25 games. Werder Bremen are shockingly in 17th place on 18 points, one season on from finishing in 8th. That Bremen have a game in hand is only small consolation given Fortuna Dusseldorf are in 16th place on 22 points. You’ve then got Mainz 05 with a 4 point moat for Fortuna to cross if they are to avoid a trip to the 2nd division.