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The 2018-19 Bundesliga season has cemented itself as possibly one of the most exciting German top-flight campaigns in recent history.
The usual runaway champions, Bayern Munich, sit in 4th, and 6 points separate Borussia Monchengladbach in 2nd, and Hertha Berlin in 7th. This season promises to be full of surprises.
#1 Bayern's fall from grace
The biggest argument against the Bundesliga is usually the fact that Bayern are champions a good distance before the end of the season. No other German side can compete against the Bavarian side's resources, or the sheer quality Bayern possess in their ranks.
This season has been different due to the Bayern board's miscalculations. Karl Heinz Rummenigge and Uli Hoeness have failed to make any effort to replace Bayern's ageing stars.
The investment made in players simply hasn't been enough to compete with the smart acquisitions less wealthy clubs have made. This has left Bayern with a squad highly dependent on players like Robben and Ribery who can no longer play three matches a week.
Some criticism can be rendered at new Bayern coach, Niko Kovac, but overall it is the board at fault.
#2 Talent on show
The Bundesliga has witnessed an exponential increase in talent over the past few seasons. No longer is Germany's first division an oligopoly of clubs like Bayern, Dortmund, Schalke, and Leverkusen.
No club can be written off. Testament to this are clubs like RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt, Monchengladbach, and Hoffenheim. Despite limited budgets and wage bills, these clubs have made quality budget signings year after year.
Young players have found it easy to come through the ranks, and even though these clubs usually don't challenge for the title, there are a good 9-10 of them who compete for the European spots, which is fantastic to see.
The managerial talent on show is off the charts as well. Julian Nagelsmann, Lucien Favre, Adi Hutter, Dieter Hecking, and Domenico Tedesco are just some of the managers currently in the Bundesliga, all excellent coaches in their own regard.
Lucien Favre's impact at Dortmund this season has been especially special. Many of the older players have been cleared out, and the squad has been infused with young blood. The sheer quality the Bundesliga possesses bodes well for the ranking of the league.
#3 Competitive marketing
A significant improvement has been the excellent marketing pursued by the Bundesliga this season. This is especially noticeable in India and other Asian countries where the quality of advertisement, regularity of programs, and telecast quality has grown remarkably in the last few years.
Many football fans argue that the Premier League is the best in the world not just because of its intensity, but also because of the efforts made to market it as 'the best league in the world'.
The Bundesliga's media team has taken a leaf out of England's book, and has made a great effort to connect better with the fans. And with the competitiveness that we see this year, it's sure to pay dividends.
The Bundesliga is no more a monopoly, it has evolved into one of the most talented and exciting leagues in the world. The Premier League and LaLiga may possess a larger fan-base, but with the progress Germany's top-flight is currently making, they're sure to have a real competition on their hands.
