Unlike anywhere else in the top European leagues, the German top flight is a wonderful, wide-open race. Last season’s champions VfL Wolfsburg proved that point.
Of course, there are the big clubs with FC Bayern always challenging for the title while Werder Bremen seem to constantly add silverware to their cabinet.
But that doesn’t seem to guarantee them anything when it comes to the Bundesliga title race.
So far this season, it is Bayer Leverkusen and Hamburg SV who lead the way with 22 points, ahead of Werder (3rd, 21 points), Schalke 04 (4th, 20), Bayern (5th, 18), 1899 Hoffenheim 
But it took until after the winter break for Wolfsburg to emerge from the pack last season.
Indeed, it is time to analyse who will be contending for the title come April and May next year.
Leverkusen have started the season in fine style with Stefan Kiessling fired in plenty of goals, but the last few weeks haven’t been smooth sailing. A couple of consecutive draws have stagnated their progress and those results have coincided with midfielder Renato Augusto’s absence due to a knee injury. He is clearly a key.
Many pundits have questioned Leverkusen’s sustainability at the top of the table. Indeed, they seem to rarely defeat the ‘big’ clubs in the ‘big’ games which could prove crucial. On the other hand, they’ll welcome back star forward Patrick Helmes later this season and he could add to their arsenal.
HSV began last campaign in fine fashion under Martin Jol, before fading as the season wore on and a repeat is the fear in the north-west. But Bruno Labbadia’s current squad boasts more quality nowadays and that could prove crucial.
Winger Eljero Elia, midfielder Ze Roberto and Dutch forward Marcus Berg have proved more than useful additions while Piotr Trochowski continues to sparkle in a dangerous HSV forwardline. More good news for Hamburg too, is they’ve recently had a series of tough games (including Europe League) and survived that. They certainly look capable.
After a forgettable 2008-2009 league campaign, Thomas Schaaf’s Werder are back in the title race and look a realistic threat. Young midfielder Mesut Ozil is proving himself every week, while having Claudio Pizarro up front is delivering Werder the goals they need.
Still, Werder’s youthful midfielders like Ozil, Aaron Hunt and Marko Marin will need to maintain their form over the whole season which represents some challenge but with seasoned stars like Tim Borowski around, Bremen seem to have the right mix for a decent title challenge.
Wolfsburg’s title-winning boss Felix Magath, who is now at Schalke, has been doing good 
Magath demands his players be at maximum fitness and that’s worked a treat for Schalke who’ve played plenty of great football on the counter. Schalke also play a very physical game under Magath with Kevin Kuranyi the main goalscoring threat, although Jefferson Farfan is a great second option.
Defender Heiko Westermann claimed earlier this week Schalke can improve at the back. And with Magath weaving his magic, Schalke could well be in the mix for the title in May.
The Bavarian giants have had a sleepy start to the new campaign with their forwardline misfiring at times. New boss Louis van Gaal won’t put up with that for long and recent rumbling from the club suggest there will be changes in January.
Nevertheless, Bayern have a very accomplished squad and they aren’t far off the pace. Youngster Thomas Muller has proved a revelation this season, especially considering the struggles of players like Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose. In fact, central defender Daniel van Buyten was needed to go forward and grab Bayern late winner over Frankfurt last weekend.
Franck Ribery, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid or Barcelona in the summer, is a key when he returns to fitness and alongside Arjen Robben, Bayern have a dangerous midfield wonderfully nicknamed ‘Robbery’. van Gaal is a shrewd boss and you can never discount Bayern who will hit form sooner or later.
>Last season’s surprise packets are a side who shouldn’t be ignored. Ralf Rangnick has done a great job down in Mannheim and this squad is full of creative and prolific players including Vedad Ibisevic, whose injury in the second-half of last season denied Hoffenheim a proper crack at the title.
The champions are missing Magath’s influence, although new boss Armin Veh (who won the title with Stuttgart three years back) has some pedigree. But Grafite isn’t firing and the side are conceding far too many goals. Last season was a great season at the Volkswagen Arena but it’s hard to see Wolfsburg realistically repeating that success.