Bundesliga 2015/16 mid-season report: 5 things we learned so far

Whilst Bayern Munich continue to rule the Bundesliga and are all but certain to run away with the Deutsche Meisterschale for the fourth year on the trot, Borussia Dortmund have successfully climbed out of the dumps under Thomas Tuchel this season.Schalke are still struggling and away from Champions League spots whereas Wolfsburg have been knocked off their perch and struggle in seventh. The season has already seen eight hat-tricks, five more than what we witnessed at the same stage last year, but the number of managerial changes, on the grounds of either dismissal or resignation, stands at a similar four.Germany’s top-tier has finished 17 rounds of games, thereby finishing exactly 50% of the season, but has embarked on a month-long winter break. Here are some of the major talking points that have stemmed out from Bundesliga so far this term.

#1 Bayern Munich still unassailable

Despite just one defeat in the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich under Pep Guardiola comfortably sit atop the pile with 15 wins from the opening 17 games with a healthy 8-point lead over their nearest rivals – Borussia Dortmund.

The Bavarians, characteristically, have got the campaign off to a flyer, blowing their opponents out of the water. Having struck the back of the net 46 times, they trail only Dortmund, with 47 for the most number of goals scored in the top 5 leagues at this stage. They also have the meanest defence in Europe along with Atletico Madrid, having conceded only 8 goals this season.

With Guardiola stepping down at the end of the season, FC Hollywood is well poised to retain domestic supremacy. Whilst that has never been in question, how early they will wrap up the title has. Dortmund, for all their resurgence, are still some way standing matching shoulder-to-shoulder with their illustrious rivals, whereas Wolfsburg, who were so promising last season, have slithered down the table this time around.

With no other able challenger in the horizon right now, Bayern Munich are still unassailable in the Bundesliga race and look set to win a record fourth consecutive league title.

#2 Aubameyang keeps Dortmund ticking, but there are still problems aplenty

Borussia Dortmund have made quite a start to the season under the new man in the dugout, Thomas Tuchel. With 12 victories and 47 goals scored in the process, the Yellow Brigade have found the net as many times as they did in the whole of last season, highlighting the substantial improvement from their disastrous 2014/15 campaign.

Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang seems to be devouring the opposition defences this term, having amassed 17 goals in as many appearances, as the former St. Etienne man is in the form of his life. While Marco Reus, Shinji Kagawa, Mathias Ginter and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are also enjoying a fabulous season, there are still some weaknesses within the team that are to be dealt with.

Dortmund are susceptible to slip-ups in the unlikeliest of situations, as seen in their defeats to Koln and PAOK. The defence also remains ropey. Captain Matts Hummels is still struggling for consistency whereas Sokratis and Piszczek are not reliable. Their defensive ineptitude has seen them concede 23 times so far. Manchester United loanee Adnan Janujaz has also faded into mediocrity after a bright start.

Although they are not a finished article yet, Dortmund may well finish in Champions League places come May. However, the frailties that currently plague the side need to be resolved if they are to end the season with any silverware.

#3 Javier Hernandez thriving in new found sojourn

Mexican maestro Javier Hernandez left Manchester United in the summer to join Bayer Leverkusen and he seems to have made the right decision. In 14 domestic appearances, the Little Pea has struck 11 times. Another 5 in the Champions League, including a wonderful goal against Barcelona, and 3 more in cup games takes his tally to an impressive 19 in 22 outings. Now that is some return for a player whose career was in deep trouble just a few months ago.

A persona non grata at Old Trafford, Chicharito moved to Real Madrid last year for a season-long loan to revive his career. Even after a fair to middling time in the Spanish capital, he continued to cut a forlorn figure with the Red Devils on his return to the fold at the start of the season.

Leverkusen soon came calling and Hernandez jumped ship. Four months after his departure, it is Manchester United who are feeling the heat now as the club is enduring a turbulent time also netting fewer number of times than the Mexican himself since his first appearance in North-Rhine Westphalia.

Onwards and upwards for Hernandez!

#4 Wolfsburg crippled after Kevin De Bruyne\'s departure

VfL Wolfsburg were the talk of the town last season in Bundesliga, finishing as the runners-up and winning the DFB-Pokal cup to cap off arguably their most memorable season since their league triumph in 2008/09. The success was largely down to the goal-scoring prowess of Bas Dost and the creative genius of Kevin De Bruyne.

The latter departed for Manchester City in the summer that followed, and the Wolves have run out of steam in the new season without him. With only 7 victories from the opening 17 games, Deiter Hecking’s side languish in seventh place in the table – 20 points adrift of leaders Bayern Munich with only 23 goals scored so far. That is 10 less than what they managed at the same stage last year.

Dost’s run in the league suggests last season was a mere flash in the pan, having struck only 7 times, whereas the likes of Max Kruse, Julian Draxler and Andre Schurrle have been largely underperforming.

The reading would have been different had De Bruyne stayed in beyond the last campaign. But without him, Wolfsburg are walking wounded in the Bundesliga.

#5 Hertha Berlin hoping for a fairytale finish

From surviving the drop by the skin of their teeth last season to finishing the year in European places, what a remarkable turnaround it has been for Hertha Berlin. Die Alte Dame (The Old Lady) were most certain to get consigned to the second division at the end of the 2014/15 season, but Hamburg’s defeat in the final game ensured that they stayed afloat, albeit only on goal difference.

This season, the Berlin side have emerged from the scraps to become the real deal in the league. With 10 victories in 17 rounds, they are currently third in the standings, ahead of the likes of Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Monchengladbach and Wolfsburg.

Lead by former Chelsea player Salomon Kalou, their high-pressing game coupled with some sturdy defending has made them a strong outfit. And they have given the top dogs of the division a run for their money.

Although the season is only halfway through, Hertha BSC are riding a wave of confidence, which if sustained till the end can really see a fairytale finish.