Can RB Leipzig end Bayern's dominance?

Published by isport on Mon, 01/23/2017 - 17:49

If anyone is going to break Bayern Munich’s stranglehold on the Bundesliga title this season, it is going to be Ralph Hasenhuttl’s RB Leipzig. Their journey since the club’s formation back in 2009 has been nothing short of astronomical but success in Germany’s top flight would send shockwaves across European football’s elite divisions.

The likes of Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Monchengladbach and VfL Wolfsburg have all pushed Bayern close in the last few years but the Bavarians are a class above their German rivals. When it comes to the domestic campaign, Bayern are simply too strong for the vast majority of clubs and Carlo Ancelotti’s side could probably finish in the top half of the table if they played their reserves for the entire campaign.

At the time of writing, Bayern are three points clear at the top of the table and the current champions will be quietly confident of retaining their crown for the fifth year in a row. While Leipzig aren’t exactly loved by the majority of German football fans, it would be refreshing to see another club finish at the summit of the Bundesliga table.

RB Leipzig are currently priced at an industry-best 10/1 in Bundesliga betting markets with bet365 and the newly promoted side have certainly shown enough in the first half of the campaign to justify backing them in the title race. Hasenhuttl’s side have won 11 of their 16 matches so far this season, losing just twice – one of those was a 3-0 defeat against their closest Bundesliga rivals.

With four promotions in seven seasons, Leipzig know what it takes to win and that winning mentality could prove crucial at the business end of the campaign. Bayern have been tested by a number of clubs in recent years, mainly Borussia Dortmund, but nobody has managed to end the monopoly of Munich success. Leipzig WILL win the Bundesliga title at some point in the near future; whether that is this year or at some point in the next five years.

The Bundesliga challengers will have the bit between their teeth following the festive break and Leipzig’s 4-0 thrashing of Rangers in the final mid-season friendly on January 15th will remind Bayern that they are in for a real battle in the coming months. With the likes of top goal scorer Timo Werner, upcoming star Oliver Burke and Dominik Kaiser at their best, RB Leipzig will be looking for a fast start as they look to pile the pressure on Bayern.

On the whole, Leipzig’s squad is inexperienced but there is plenty of potential and young talent in their ranks. Whatever happens this season, Hasenhuttl’s men will learn from this experience and the Bundesliga title is no longer a given for Bayern Munich. Ancelotti has been there and done it all at the highest level but even he might struggle to cope with the intense pressure from Leipzig as the end of the season draws nearer. Watch this space; the title could be heading to the Red Bull arena...

Tags: 
Bayern