Bundesliga - Can Wolfsburg do it again?

Eurosport - Thu, 06 Aug 17:38:00 2009

Ahead of the new Bundesliga season, Eurosport-Yahoo! takes a look at the main movers and shakers in this season's German championship.

FOOTBALL 2009-2010 Bundesliga Wolfsburg Team Training - 0

(Predicted league positions in brackets)

(1) Wolfsburg

Strengths: Managed to keep last season's title-winning team together, while improving their attacking third with Obafemi Martins, Thomas Kahlenberg and Karim Ziani.

Weaknesses: Problems could arise if they cannot handle the pressure. Goalkeeper Diego Benaglio has looked shaky in pre-season.

Stars: Grafite and Edin Dzeko scored 29 and 26 goals last season, the highest scoring strike partnership in Bundesliga history.

Starlet: Jan Simunek, the Czech defender, was considered fourth-string before summer training camp. He is now starting alongside Andrea Barzagli in the centre of defence.

(2) Bayern Munich

Strengths: Bayern have the best squad and the best individual players in the league. After last season's Juergen Klinsmann saga, football is again the main focus at the Allianz Arena. On their day, Mario Gomez and Miroslav Klose can be the most potent strike duo in the Bundesliga, Franck Ribery's talent is undeniable and across the board the squad boasts international experience.

Weaknesses: The best individuals do not necessarily make the best team. Bayern have to integrate a number of new players (Gomez, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Daniel Pranjic, Ivica Olic, Edson Braafheid) into their squad while keeping current stars content. Trouble can only be around the corner. Bayern's keepers Hans-Jorg Butt and Michael Rensing do not belong in a top side and problems could arise in defence after the departure of the influential Lucio.

Stars: Ribery, Gomez, Klose, Tymoshchuk, Bastien Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm... who isn't a star?

Starlet: Twent-year-old defender Holger Badstuber represents a viable alternative to Martin Demichelis or Breno and may even start the season in central defence.

(3) Hamburg

Strengths: Hamburg boast a number of talented individuals - Ze Roberto, Mladen Petric and experienced goalkeeper Frank Rost.

Weaknesses: New players will have to integrate before the team can enjoy success. The club suffered a difficult second half of last season.

Star: Ze Roberto arrived on a free transfer from Bayern Munich and the Brazilian international will be expected to lead the team.

Starlet: Marcus Berg scored seven goals in four games at the U21 European Championship in June.

(4) Borussia Dortmund

Strengths: A solid, stable side. Their defence, consisting of Neven Subotic, Mats Hummels and goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller was the second most miserly in the league last year.

Weaknesses: They drew 14 games last season. Strikers Mohamed Zidan and Nelson Valdez cannot be classed as out-and-out goal-getters.

Star: Coach Juergen Klopp, who is loved by everyone in the city. New signing Lucas Barrios, the highest-scoring player in world football during 2008, could make a name for himself.

Starlet: German U21 defender Hummels enjoyed a decent first half of last season before injuries held him back. Enjoyed a fantastic U21 final against England in Sweden.

(5) Schalke

Strengths: Felix Magath is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in Germany after winning the Bundesliga title with Wolfsburg last season.

Weaknesses: Nothing major, but they will have to sell players before they can add to their squad.

Star: Jermaine Jones is excellent in his defensive midfield position. He links up defence and attack beautifully and refuses to accept defeat.

Starlet: The best player of last year's second division, Lewis Holtby, now plays for Schalke. The 18-year-old winger is one for the future.

(6) Hoffenheim

Strengths: Coach Ralf Rangnick, dubbed the 'tactics professor', can prepare a team like no other. His side like to go on the front foot and defensive frailties have been addressed by the signing of Josip Simunic, voted best central defender in the Bundesliga last season.

Weaknesses: Tactical indiscipline (especially from the Brazilians), Vedad Ibisevic is struggling with injury and Demba Ba disturbed the peace with a transfer request.

Stars: Ibisevic scored 18 goals in 17 matches last season before he suffered a cruciate ligament injury and was sidelined for the second part of the campaign. Central midfielder Carlos Eduardo is a key part of the team while Timo Hildebrand is rock solid in goal.

Starlet: Gifted 18-year-old Argentine midfielder Franco Zucculini may be a rough diamond but coach Rangnick may be able to get the best out of him.

And the rest: 7. Bayer Leverkusen 8. Stuttgart 9. Werder Bremen 10. Cologne 11. Hertha Berlin 12. Borussia M'gladbach 13. Nuremberg 14. Freiburg 15. Mainz 16. Hannover 17. Bochum 18. Eintracht Frankfurt

Fabian Kunze / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 14 of 14

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  1. That 'Pogues H' is a right @#$%! He thinks he­ is funny taking the piss! Go look at the German­ football statistics and then compare them with englands­ dismal 1 x World cup record!!

    From tommy, on Fri 7 Aug 3:10PM

  2. Bayern all the way

    From Abhinav, on Thu 6 Aug 4:56PM

  3. There is no doubt who will win Bundesliga this year:­ Bayern. Players like Gomez, Olic and Klose will score­ many goals. they also have young guns who will be great­ players in a few years

    From gheo_maximof, on Thu 6 Aug 2:38PM

  4. jawohl! Ze Ze Roberto is now plazing ze foootball for­ ze Hamburg Team, I sink quite a good move for zis man,­ vot u sink?

    From Pogues H, on Thu 6 Aug 2:30PM

  5. Mohamed Zidan is a goal getter actually. His record may­ not have been too high because he was often used as a­ substitute for Alexander Frei or Valdez. Zidan is a­ terrific striker and a key asset of Dortmund's. I­ completely agree with Subotic being an asset however.

    From John, on Thu 6 Aug 2:26PM

  6. Stuttgart will rise like a phoenix and surprise­ everyone :-)

    From wolfgangschmidt19, on Thu 6 Aug 2:24PM

  7. Zombie Runner - Ze Roberto's at Hamburg, no?

    From The Northerner, on Thu 6 Aug 2:01PM

  8. Zat vould be very gut ven Bayern zelling ze Ribery to­ ze klub like ManU. I vonder if ze Ribery vould go to ze­ english klub and to England? Vot du u zink vould he do­ zomzing like zat? I think he not like ze rain in this­ zity?

    From Pogues H, on Thu 6 Aug 1:45PM

  9. I sink ze Bayern should sell Ribery to ze english clubs­ like ze maan U.

    From Sid, on Thu 6 Aug 1:11PM

  10. No wolfsburg made it to champions of the bundesliga­ because of there duo grafite-dzeko. The many goals they­ scored is almost inpossible to repeat that bayern will­ be be nr° 1 again.

    From Steven Z, on Thu 6 Aug 12:37PM

  11. Bremen are nothing without Diego, I think 9th is­ generous. On that same note however, it's time for­ Ozil to shine in a creative role.

    From G, on Thu 6 Aug 12:36PM

  12. wot do u zink if zey can vin again?

    From Pogues H, on Thu 6 Aug 12:34PM

  13. zat is zumsing ve vill vait to cee

    From Pogues H, on Thu 6 Aug 12:30PM

  14. Wolfsburg with Grafite and Edin Dzeko they can do­ anything....
    can't wait to the team in Champions­ league

    From hasan, on Thu 6 Aug 12:17PM
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