Bundesliga season preview
Skysports.com runs the rule over the runners and riders for the new Bundesliga season.
Skysports.com runs the rule over the runners and riders for the new Bundesliga season.
Werder Bremen
Thomas Schaaf's proven unit built around German international trio Torsten Frings, Tim Borowski and Miroslav Klose must do without playmaker Johan Micoud, but young Brazilian Diego looks like an excellent replacement and with the recruitment of top defender Per Mertesacker, Werder could be set for a surprise title, given their impressive firepower up front.
Skysports.com predicted position: 1st
Bayern Munich
The defending champions might be everyone's favourites to win Die Bundesliga again, but the title-race looks to be incredibly tight as the departures of Brazilian Ze Roberto and especially Michael Ballack have left a massive void in midfield and in the team's hierarchy which needs to be filled. After two consecutive league and cup doubles, the team might lack determination and new signings Lukas Podolski and Daniel van Buyten are promising, but might find it difficult to settle at the Allianz Arena, while strikers Roy Makaay and Claudio Pizarro have been annoyed by the clubs' failed attempts to sign Real Madrid-bound Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Skysports.com predicted position: 2nd
Hamburg
Charismatic coach Thomas Doll reminds many of Jurgen Klinsmann given his motivational skills and love for attacking football and while the defence and midfield are well-positioned - watch out for prolific Dutchman Rafael van der Vaart - the team still lacks a proven goalscorer to fulfil the high expectations in the league and Europe. If the excellent atmosphere in and around the club can be preserved, the Rothosen might have a say in the title-race, but the lack of experience might give their rivals the edge.
Skysports.com predicted position: 3rd
Borussia Dortmund
After three years without European football, the former Champions League winners have overcome their financial crisis and with a young and promising squad and new firepower up front Bert Van Marwijk's side could be set to become the surprise package of the season.
Skysports.com predicted position: 4th
Schalke 04
With a financial crisis looming over the Veltins-Arena, the question remains if young coach Mirko Slomka can form a tough group out of a promising squad featuring the likes of Kevin Kuranyi, Fabian Ernst and Brazilian right-back Rafinha, which was strengthened with Rangers' Peter Lovenkrands and Halil Altintop.
Skysports.com predicted position: 5th
Borussia Monchengladbach
The return of coach Jupp Heynckes should inspire the Foals to challenge for a top six finish. The mixture of talented home-grown youngsters such as German international Marcel Jansen and Eugen Polanski and experienced players like Oliver Neuville and Kasey Keller seems well-balanced.
Skysports.com predicted position: 6th
VFB Stuttgart
New boss Armin Veh is under pressure to deliver more attractive football after turning everything upside-down at the Daimler-Stadium - including the sale of crowd-favourite Andreas Hinkel. Reintroducing the 4-4-2 looks like a good idea, but only if all new-signings fit in well will the Swabians be able to challenge for a place in Europe.
Skysports.com predicted position: 7th
Bayer Leverkusen
Inconsistency seems to be the only consistent factor at the BayArena and the lack of top-scorer Dimitar Berbatov, now with Spurs, and experienced defender Jens Nowotny will cause many problems for the BayArena outfit.
Skysports.com predicted position: 8th
Hertha Berlin
The farewell of midfield primadonna Marcelinho surely weakens Hertha's options, but should strengthen the team-spirit. Many youngsters look set to make their Bundesliga breakthrough, but it remains to be seen if the Old Lady finally solved her problems up front by signing Christian Gimenez.
Skysports.com predicted position: 9th
FC Nurnberg
Experienced coach Hans Meyer has re-inspired the nine-times champions and although they lost promising forward Stephan Kiessling, the signature of Czech ace Tomas Galasek could prove vital, while Slovakians Marek Mintal and Robert Vittek form a dangerous duo up front.
Skysports.com predicted position: 10th
VFL Wolfsburg
No relegation worries for the Wolves this term, but once again the season should end in no-man's land, as Mike Hanke and Diego Klimovicz up front lack support from midfield.
Skysports.com predicted position: 11th
Eintracht Frankfurt
Frankfurt's hard-working squad might not play in the most attractive style, but the wise guidance of coach Friedhelm Funkel and president Heribert Bruchhagen has transformed the former chaos-club into a serious Bundesliga force. Albert Streit, Rangers' Greek ace Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Japanese striker Naohiro Takahara should have a good impact at the usually packed Commerzbank-Arena.
Skysports.com predicted position: 12th
VFL Bochum
Swiss Coach Marcel Koller and director of sport Stefan Kuntz get the most out of the club's limited resources. The squad stayed together and the new signings have all proved they are up for Bundesliga football.
Skysports.com predicted position: 13th
Mainz 05
The loss of offensive trio Mohamed Zidan, Benjamin Auer and Antonio Da Silva hit Jurgen Klopp's team hard, but the family-like atmosphere at the club and the excellent home support should help the team to avoid relegation once again, if only just.
Skysports.com predicted position: 14th
Alemannia Aachen
Back in the top flight after 36 years, the minnows are everyone's favourites to face relegation, but the frenetic home-support at the out-dated Tivoli Stadium and the strong team-spirit could see Dietmar Hecking's squad to stay up.
Skysports.com predicted position: 15th
Hannover 96
Big-talking coach Peter Neururer has never kept his jobs for very long and he's favourite to get sacked this term as the board-room problems continue to weaken the 96ers, who have failed to strengthen their squad in the transfer market so far, while losing Per Mertesacker might well prove disastrous for their defence.
Skysports.com predicted position: 16th
Arminia Bielefeld
The hard-working, but predictable team seems doomed to continue what the club is famous for - hovering up and down between the two top-divisions and this time the thumb points downwards.
Skysports.com predicted position: 17th
Energie Cottbus
The only team from the former East Germany surprisingly won promotion, but lost influential defender Gregg Berhalter and Petrick Sander's team lack the financial power and individual class to play Bundesliga football. Only a miracle could save them from straight relegation.
Skysports.com predicted position: 18th
