The Bundesliga is back! Re-evaluating the pre-lockdown form guide
Following the announcement that Fussball is back, or at least has been rescheduled in Germany, Saturday 16th is the date to mark down in your diaries.
With that in mind, we look back to where the league left off to re-assess the teams that were in the best shape and those that may well have been glad of a break.
When it comes to those at the peak of their powers, Bayern had stormed to the top of the table and were on course for an eighth consecutive title. A run of nine wins and 28 points from the last ten league matches saw the holders regain their stranglehold over the division, establishing a four-point lead.
It's a scintillating run of form that utlimately convinced Bayern to hand formerly interim boss Hansi Flick the head coach position on a permanent basis, or at least up until the end of his new 2023 contract.
As a result, Bayern were the top performing side in our team form rankings when the season was forced to a halt, and by some margin with a weighted rating of 7.30 over their last six matches.
A rejuvenated Bayer Leverkusen were the leaders closest rivals in that regard (7.06 form rating), having picked up 13 points from the last 15 available. Their only draw in that time was an impressive one too, coming away at RB Leipzig, who now sit just three points above B04 - cut from nine since the start of 2020.
It's been a case of too many draws for Julian Nagelsmann's young side, having topped the league at the turn of the year. Indeed, Leipzig have lost just once in that time but drawn half of their eight matches, clinging onto their hopes of an historic first Bundesliga title.
Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, sit second in the table, one point above Leipzig following a run of four consecutive victories prior to the lockdown. They've conceded just once in that time too, and Lucien Favre will hope that his side's much needed new-found defensive resolve hasn't deserted them over the break, with firepower at the opposite end never an issue.
Elsewhere, in terms of surprise packages, promoted Koln had really found their rhythm to move clear of the prospect of a return to the second tier. Indeed, having won just two of their opening 14 fixtures, Markus Gisdol's enjoyed a remarkable turnaround with eight wins from the subsequent 11. The January loan signing of Mark Uth has proven inspired, with four goals and four assists in seven appearances for the club, while Jhon Cordoba really hit his stride having failed to hit a barn door early in the campaign.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Augsburg were on a real slide towards the drop zone following seven defeats from their last nine matches. As a result they are just five points clear of a relegation play-off spot currently occupied by Duesseldorf, even if it would take an almighty capitulation to finish in the bottom two.
Like the face of a pubescent teen, those unwanted spots are taken up by Werder Bremen and Paderborn, and the blemishes seem inescapable having both picked up just one point from the last 18 available.
Meanwhile, where there are no such concerns of a relegation battle this time around following a dismal 2018/19 campaign, Schalke had schlipped at an untimely point in the season. Looking on course for a potential Champions League return prior to the New Year, S04's prospects of a Europa League finish are now hanging by a thread.
It's remarkable that they remain sixth for the time being having won just one of their last ten matches, scoring just twice across their last seven matches since an impressive win over fellow top four hopefuls Gladbach.
With a trip to Borussia Dortmund kicking off the long-awaited return to Bundesliga derby, here's hoping the next Revierderby has as much drama as the last at the Westfalenstadion, with six goals on a bonkers afternoon. In truth, after so long without seeing a ball kicked, we'll be happy to see just one!
