Money rules the world – and especially the Bundesliga. Nevertheless, there are clubs that are at the forefront with comparatively little money. A few years ago, one played in the second division.
The championship fight in the Bundesliga is more exciting than it has been for ten years. Borussia Dortmund (64 points) is breathing down the neck of leaders FC Bayern Munich (65 points) and is hoping for a slip from the record champions in the remaining three games.
However, this table constellation is by no means surprising. Because both teams also lead the league in terms of market values. According to the “Transfermarkt.de” portal, Bayern, who recently won the German championship ten times in a row, are well ahead of the competition with 979.7 million euros. BVB follows in second place with 547.7 million euros.
| 1 | 31 | 19 | 8 | 4 | 83:34 | +49 | 65 | ||||
| 2 | 31 | 20 | 4 | 7 | 73:40 | +33 | 64 | ||||
| 3 | 31 | 17 | 6 | 8 | 55:37 | +18 | 57 | ||||
| 4 | 31 | 16 | 8 | 7 | 44:32 | +12 | 56 | ||||
| 5 | 31 | 16 | 8 | 7 | 46:38 | +8 | 56 | ||||
| 6 | 31 | 14 | 6 | 11 | 54:43 | +11 | 48 |
whole table
Behind them are RB Leipzig (487.3 million euros) and Bayer Leverkusen (421.85 million euros) at a considerable distance. Leipzig is third in the table with 57 points. After a completely unsuccessful start to the season and a change of coach, Bayer 04 (48) are sixth in the table and are about to qualify for the European Cup.
Two surprise teams in the top flight
The most expensive teams in the league also dominate the table. So far, so to be expected – if there weren’t two surprise teams that have been successful for weeks despite limited funds.
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It is Union Berlin and SC Freiburg. Both are tied with 56 points in fourth and fifth place in the table – and are competing for a place in the Champions League. Participation in the “premier class” would be a novelty for both Union and SC. The comparatively small clubs, which many experts placed more in the middle of the table before the season, have never managed this feat.
This is all the more remarkable since the squad values of the Unioner (126.1 million euros) and Freiburger (161.9 million euros) are more in the middle of the league. Union is in tenth place here, SC in eighth place.
The relation between squad value and points
Union is by far the champion of efficiency in the league. A Bundesliga point scored costs the “Iron” 2.25 million euros squad value. Only Schalke 04 (2.01 million euros) and VfL Bochum (1.71 million euros) are better.
However, the two Ruhrpott clubs are ranked 15th in the table. and -17. at the other end of the list. It has little to do with the championship.
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Unlike the fourth-placed Berlin. They show the league how to play at the top with a cheap team. In the first half of the season, the “iron” even led the table for a long time – and annoyed the top clubs from Munich and Dortmund.
And that with the smallest arena in the league: The stadium at the Alte Försterei only has a good 22,000 seats. Union proves that you don’t necessarily need an expensive team and a big stadium to be successful. City rivals Hertha BSC should take a close look.
