Looking Around the League: Bayern Munich Go Four Points Clear at the Top

Borussia Dortmund lost and Bayern Munich won. That has given Bayern a four point advantage at the top of the table. It’s a tale as old as time (if time is like ten years old). The title race isn’t over, by any stretch, but the reality is that every point that Bayern gains is very hard to make up.

The opponent that Bayern Munich beat was, of course, Freiburg, who had been on a terrific run until this weekend. All good things must come to an end, I guess.

An interesting note, at this point in the season: Kicker have compared the points totals for every Bundesliga club at this point last season, to see who has improved and who hasn’t. BVB are currently in third with +5 points on last season’s tally, behind only Freiburg (+11) and Mainz (+12). Just in case you needed something to feel optimistic about!

Here’s a roundup of all the Bundesliga action this season:

Results

Mainz 1-1 Borussia Monchengladbach

Bayern Munich 2-1 Freiburg

VfL Bochum 2-0 Hoffenheim

VfB Stuttgart 0-1 Arminia Bielefeld

Wolfsburg 1-0 Augsburg

RB Leipzig 2-1 Borussia Dortmund

Hertha Berlin 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen

FC Cologne 2-2 Union Berlin

Greuther Furth 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt

Standings

Lets Take a Look at the Relegation Battle

So the race at the top of the table is starting to look somewhat familiar. Bayern are starting to get away from the rest of the pack, and the usual suspects (plus Freiburg, Mainz, and Union Berlin) are battling for the remaining spots. So how about we take a look at the other end of the table for once?

It’s not often you can say anything about the league after only 11 games, but I think it’s fair to say that Greuther Furth are doomed. About a third of the way through the season, and Greuther Furth have so far only managed to pick up one point, a point they picked up against the team directly above them, Arminia Bielefeld. Bielefeld fill the second relegation spot with eight points, but they’re only two points from safety, and one point off of the relegation playoff spot, which Augsburg are currently occupying.

Interestingly, Eintracht Frankfurt are only three points clear of the relegation playoff. It seems highly unlikely that Frankfurt will be fighting for safety come the end of the season, but they’re in a pretty rough spot at this point.

My instinct is that it could be anyone from 12th to 17th. Hertha Berlin have been poor so far this season, and there’s every chance that Bochum will find themselves dropping back as the season carries on. If I had to guess who will be there come the end of the season, I think it will be the three teams currently in the relegation spots, but Arminia Bielefeld will climb out of the automatic spot and fight it out in the playoffs.

Your Thoughts?

Which teams do you think are in the relegation battle? And who do you think will end up getting relegated?