Bayern Munich have been Bundesliga champions for as long as we can remember.
Earlier this season, they started slow – leading to Union Berlin being a surprise package – but now they’re back on top as they’ve rediscovered their form before the international break.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side is leading by at least four points in the standings. But we still have a long way to go, as a banana peel here or there can open an opportunity for several rival clubs to sneak in.
So who are the teams that can rise to the occasion to possibly dethrone the Bavarian giants? Read on below as SBOTOP lists three clubs who have a realistic chance of pushing the 10-time defending champions.
RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig were on a roll following the appointment of Marco Rose last September. Prior to Rose’s arrival, RB Leipzig struggled mightily to start their 2022-23 campaign, picking up only five points from five league games under Domenico Tedesco.
In his 19 matches at the helm, Marco Rose has won 14, drawn twice, and lost only three times across all competitions – including friendlies. They have yet to lose a game since September 17 against Borussia Monchengladbach.
Because of their stretch of great Bundesliga 2022 results, RB Leipzig have risen to third with 28 points and they’re on pace to outdo their campaign last term where they finished fourth.
Christopher Nkunku gets the majority of the plaudits since he’s topping their scoring charts with 15 goals, but the resurgence of Timo Werner has been fun to watch if you’re an RB Leipzig supporter.
Werner has six goals and two assists and he looks motivated again following a lacklustre stint with Chelsea. It’s in Leipzig where he has made a name for himself, although he won a Champions League trophy during his time at Stamford Bridge.
Andre Silva and Dominik Szoboszlai have been crucial for Die Roten Bullen too. Silva has five goals and two assists, while Szoboszlai has two goals and nine assists.
And Josko Gvardiol is another name to monitor since he has emerged as one of the best defenders in World Cup 2022. The towering Croatian will aim to maintain his superb form when he returns to Red Bull soon, unless another team buys him in the upcoming January transfer window.
Eintracht Frankfurt
If Eintracht Frankfurt are going to make some noise, it would likely be on the back of solid second-half campaigns from their World Cup 2022 participants.
Randal Kolo Muani (France), Daichi Kamada (Japan), Kevin Trapp (Germany), Mario Gotze (Germany), Djibril Sow (Switzerland), Kristijan Jakic (Croatia), and Jesper Lindstrom (Denmark) have all competed in Qatar, so fitness and sharpness aren’t going to be an issue when the Bundesliga matches resume.
Kamada leads the team in scoring with 10 goals and three assists. Kolo Muani and Lindstrom have combined for 14 goals (seven each), and the former has nine assists. Gotze and Sow, on the other hand, have two goals apiece.
But the x-factor for Die Adler is going to be Rafael Santos Borre. The Colombian only has one goal and one assist on his account thus far, and if he can recreate his form last season where he was their top scorer with 11 goals, then they can go even higher in the standings.
Frankfurt have won three of their last five Bundesliga games and they’re through to the Champions League knockouts after finishing behind Spurs in Group D. They’re currently at fourth in the German top-flight table with 27 points.
SC Freiburg
SC Freiburg are punching above their weight since they’re in second place with 30 points. Their Bundesliga 2022 odds of making it back to Europe are realistic, and maybe they can pip Bayern Munich if they get lucky.
The ability to unearth hidden gems is what makes them viable. Besides Vincenzo Grifo and Michael Gregoritsch – who lead them in scoring at 11 and nine goals – they have other threats who can propel them to the top.
Ritsu Doan is fresh from a fruitful World Cup stint for Japan. The “Japanese Messi” has recorded three goals and three assists for the Black Forest this season.
Lukas Kubler has been a pleasant surprise for Freiburg since he has already tallied four goals, while Daniel-Kofi Kyereh has been a worthwhile addition in his first year in German top-flight – notching three goals and one assist.
And they’ve been doing well despite the injuries to Lucas Holer and Roland Sallai. Once the two of them are back, SC Freiburg are going to be a much stronger squad.
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