The Bundesliga returns: What to look out in 2023
Team(s), player(s), coach(es), game(s). It's all here!
It’s good to be back. After such a long spell without Bundesliga football — it’s been more than two months — it’s back and I’m back with the newsletter.
Two games shy of the halfway point, there’s plenty to talk about, so I thought I’d just run through some thoughts on the teams at this stage and point out some of the things I’ll be looking out for now we’re back underway.
And welcome to new subscribers! Let’s get this show on the road.
Team to watch
On Opta’s The Analyst website there’s a handy little graph that shows you how teams attack.
Then it’s a matter of what you want to watch.
For a classic Bundesliga team? Bremen or Köln. They both press, they are not averse to long balls, they both usually play with two strikers and games are more likely to end 3-2 than 1-0. Bremen have impressed so far this season after promotion but teams are more likely to respect them now. Köln have struggled compared to last season because they are more respected and don’t have as much of an aerial presence, forcing them to recycle the ball more than they did in 2021/22 and it will be interesting to see if Steffen Baumgart can find any solutions.
For defensive excellence? Mainz. The ball is in Mainz’s own third the least of any team in the league. That includes Bayern Munich. When they sit deep and protect their box, they probably do it better than any other team in the league.
For something completely different? Gladbach. The ball is in Gladbach’s third the most of any team in the league. But it is not because they are being dominated. No, their centre-backs, and goalkeeper, and sometimes a midfielder, are just passing the ball amongst themselves, looking to control the game, keep possession, and slowly make their way upfield where, if they can attract and play through pressure, there is space for Jonas Hofmann, Lars Stindl, Alassane Pléa and Marcus Thuram to thrive.
Player(s) to watch
Kouadio Koné. A dribble-obsessed, tough tackling central midfielder. What’s not to love? Koné can do a bit of everything and this might be his last six months in Germany, with the Premier League just sitting there with all its money. I really hope it isn’t, he’s superb fun to watch and his ambitious attempts to squeeze through a press make him the ideal player to shine in a Bundesliga midfield with the ball and his combativeness makes him ideal for the league when he loses it.
I took a look at Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani for The Analyst last week, feel free to have a read of that. His partnership with Jesper Lindstrøm allows the latter to be the more interesting player, in my view.
And then there’s Florian Wirtz, but I’m about to get into that.
Manager to watch
Xabi Alonso. Leverkusen are sort of stranded in the nothingness of midtable and Xabi Alonso was handed a thankless task in his first top job as a coach.
Well, he’s won four from seven since arriving, including the last three in the league. As you would expect, Leverkusen are keeping the ball more than before, circulating it around the back with Alonso’s 3-4-3 or 3-4-1-2 shape, but we haven’t seen their full potential this season. The return of the brilliant Florian Wirtz is very exciting and Alonso really has a blank canvas with little pressure as he looks to forge a team in his image.
Jeremie Frimpong is loving his role as a wingback and Moussa Diaby is always fun to watch, so let’s see what Alonso can get cooking.
Story to watch
Sebastién Haller is back! Dortmund were relying on teenager Youssoufa Moukoko before the break but now Haller has returned to action and, with some time, it will be interesting to see what he can deliver.
The pressure is well and truly off for him personally but Dortmund need more goals and they will be hoping the Ivorian has them. Maybe he takes a while to settle or maybe he has a new lease of life?
BVB are sixth and if they don’t improve they are in huge danger of missing out on a Champions League spot. Just six points separate Eintracht Frankfurt in fourth and Bremen in ninth so, no matter who gets their act together (or who doesn’t) the race for top four will be fierce.
Game(s) to watch this weekend
Let’s pick one per day, shall we?
Friday: RB Leipzig-Bayern
Leipzig have the same number of points as Bayern since Marco Rose arrived and can go within three points of top spot with a win.
Saturday: Köln-Bremen
Maybe the most Bundesliga game in the Bundesliga, as explained earlier. There should be goals.
Sunday: Gladbach-Leverkusen
Maybe the least Bundesliga game in the Bundesliga, as explained earlier. It will be interesting to watch two teams happy to have slower possession and who can win the weekend’s most chess-like encounter.
Again, welcome to new subscribers. If you like what you see, spread the word!
The newsletter will usually focus on just the one topic, not this sort of style of hopping around from one thing to the next, and I hope you’ll like learning more (or not) about German football with me on a weekly basis!