6 Reasons to Keep Watching the Bundesliga Despite the Premier League's Highly-Anticipated Return
By Ben Carter
Like never before, the eyes of the world have been watching the Bundesliga following its return amid the coronavirus pandemic.
It's not a league which craves high viewing figures, but as the most successful, fan-led league on the planet, the attention which has been directed towards the Bundesliga has been a welcome sight for its long-term fans.
Once again, the title race won't grab anyone's attention. Bayern Munich will (in all probability) scoop an eighth straight Bundesliga trophy and they might well get their hands on the domestic cup too, but there are still more than a handful of story lines which can keep your attention from now until the end of the season.
All eyes will be back on the Premier League next month, and quite rightly too, but here are six reasons why fans from all over the world should keep supporting the Bundesliga this season.
The Runners-Up Spot
Bayern Munich will win the Bundesliga title. That much seems certain. But four teams are fighting to finish in second place this season, which also brings automatic qualification to the Champions League.
Borussia Dortmund will be the favourites for a second-place finish, but there are three teams behind the Black and Yellows who all deserve that spot behind the Bundesliga champions.
Borussia Mönchengladbach, Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig have been three of the most impressive teams on the continent this season, but with Dortmund also in the mix, three top European sides will miss out on second place.
European Qualification
Three teams will miss out on the runners-up spot in the Bundesliga, but cruelly, one of Germany's best sides won't get a chance to play in the Champions League next season.
Dortmund, Gladbach, Leipzig and Leverkusen all deserve the chance to progress in Europe's elite competition, but only three other teams from Germany will be able to qualify alongside Bayern Munich.
As far as Europa League qualification is concerned, Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim should make up the rest of the Bundesliga's top seven, although Freiburg, Hertha and Schalke are within five points of seventh place.
Werder's Great Escape
Werder Bremen should have been challenging for a place in the top half of the table this season, but instead, Florian Kohfeldt's side are struggling to keep their heads above water.
The club sit in the automatic relegation zone with just five games left and a place in the play-off spot - where Bremen will likely have to play either Hamburg or Stuttgart over two legs - could be the best that's on offer this season.
Uwe Rösler's at the Wheel
Fortuna Düsseldorf are punching above their weight to stay in the Bundesliga, but with Uwe Rösler now in charge at the Merkur Spielarena, surviving for a second straight season has become a very realistic possibility.
They're a popular side who help to sum up exactly what German football is all about and as long as they can stay in the Bundesliga, it's an example of why fan-owned football clubs still have their place in the modern, commercial landscape.
Union Berlin & Köln
Although Paderborn won't be able to survive the drop, two promoted sides might just be able to retain their top-flight status for another year.
Köln and Union Berlin are two very different clubs with very different histories, but it will be just as fascinating to see how the promoted teams go about staying in the Bundesliga for another season.
Hertha's Revival
Hertha BSC were the laughing stock of the Bundesliga in the early stages of the season, but Bruno Labbadia has been able to turn their fortunes around brilliantly.
The club have spent big in the transfer market and things are starting to come together, with Hertha even not too far away from qualifying for the Europa League.
Labbadia's heroics might not mean too much now as far as this season is concerned, but by keeping up to date with Hertha's progress, you might just be watching the early days of a Bundesliga champion in the making.