Bayern’s Jamal Musiala (centre) beats Frankfurt’s Rode (left) and Mario Götze. Image: www.imago-images.de / imago images
Bundesliga
For a few weeks it looked as if the fight for the championship in the Bundesliga was going to be really exciting for a longer period of time this season.
Bayern Munich failed to win four games in a row in September and the competition took advantage of the blunder. Only: the table leader was not something like Borussia Dortmund or RB Leipzig, but 1. FC Union Berlin, followed by SC Freiburg.
But now things are back to normal. FC Bayern is at the top, four points ahead of SC Freiburg (2nd) and six over RB Leipzig (3rd).
In a direct duel with Munich on Friday evening for the restart of the Bundesliga, the Saxons could again ensure a somewhat narrower top of the table. “But in the end Bayern will be champions, that’s for sure”states the former Bundesliga professional and Dazn expert Sebastian Kneißl in an interview with watson.
But the 40-year-old has a very special hope of who can be dangerous for Munich in the next few years. And this competitor does not come from Dortmund or Leipzig.
“Eintracht could be a sleeping giant slowly waking up.”
Dazn expert Sebastian Kneißl
FC Bayern has to think about long-term new replacements
The Munich team was able to close the largest construction site with the transfer of Yann Sommer. According to the Bundesliga expert, whether the Gladbacher will be signed or the previous number 2, Sven Ulreich, will now be the number one goalkeeper was also an issue among the Bayern stars.
“Because of his age, he will not be the long-term solution”
Dazn expert Sebastian Kneißl about Yann Sommer
It is very likely that Sommer will now be in goal for the top game against Leipzig – after just one training session. Ulreich will continue to be a substitute. “He is aware of his role and we know that we can rely on Ulle.”
The advantage of coach Julian Nagelsmann: dhe 34-year-old is not a speaker who publicly demands deployment times. So that’s one construction site less for the Bayern coach.
Nevertheless, the club bosses have to think about a successor solution for Manuel Neuer. According to Kneissl, the 36-year-old will be in goal for Munich for at least a year after his return, but then his future is uncertain.
“Then those responsible have to see if Yann Sommer is the right one, but just because of his age he won’t be the long-term solution,” says Kneißl.
Eintracht Frankfurt not a “flash in the pan”
The fact that Munich’s closest pursuer is currently not Borussia Dortmund, but the Champions League places are occupied by SC Freiburg, RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt and Union Berlin is in 5th place, is “outstanding” for the Dazn expert.
For him, the keyword for the success of the supposedly smaller club is humility. “That doesn’t mean cuddling, but they focus on their strengths and implement them in a targeted manner.” At Freiburg, Frankfurt and Union, the current success came from hard work.
Eintracht Frankfurt in particular have shown with a “balanced squad” under the “extraordinarily good” coach Oliver Glasner that they are “not a flash in the pan”. Glaser would have improved his teams every year and therefore Kneißl believes the Hessians are capable of much more than “just” qualifying for the Champions League.
“There’s a lot of money in the city and therefore a lot of potential in the club. That’s why Eintracht could be a sleeping giant that’s slowly waking up.”
The only question is how well they can cope with the triple burden of the DFB Cup and Champions League round of 16 against Darmstadt and SSC Napoli in February and March.
Because with their Europa League triumph last year, the Frankfurters clearly noticed that they do not approach every Bundesliga game with the same passion as the games in international competition. In the end it was only enough for eleventh place.
BVB: Süle believes in catching up, Reus and Moukoko cause unrest
After the disappointing first 15 match days, Borussia Dortmund is still hoping to reach the Champions League places on their own.
“If we were to win the two remaining games in the first half of the season, we’d be up there again. I can still remember well that BVB was nine points ahead of Bayern and in the end Bayern became champions,” said Niklas Süle of the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”.
Instead of a possible race to catch up, the Westphalians are currently all about the contracts of Marco Reus and young hope Youssoufa Moukoko, which are due to expire in the summer.
“If it resonates that Reus ‘stays anyway’ because he’s a Dortmund boy, then I can understand that he’s frustrated.”
Dazn expert Sebastian Kneißl
“I think Moukoko is good for BVB and that his development is currently a perfect fit for Dortmund.”, says Kneißl, looking at the 18-year-old. According to sports director Sebastian Kehl, it is currently up to the attacker because Borussia have submitted their final offer.
Marco Reus’ contract with BVB expires in the summer.Image: www.imago-images.de / imago images
In the case of Marco Reus, his advisor Dirk Hebe caused a stir after he commented on rumors about a move to Saudi Arabia and was in the stadium for the Manchester derby at the weekend.
Kneißl therefore demands that the club show the national player a perspective and explain why there have been no talks yet. “But if the topic isn’t addressed and it somehow resonates that Reus ‘stays anyway’ because he’s a Dortmund boy, then I can understand that he’s frustrated.”
After all, the 33-year-old must also keep an eye on his life after his career. “If he can earn a multiple of what he gets in Dortmund at Al-Nassr, then everyone would ponder.”
The sports world has seen a few bite attacks. Because even though it’s illegal in all sports – even MMA fights – there are times when someone’s fuse blows.
