Bundesliga Talk

News and Analysis of the Bundesliga

The Sync: Tough Draws in the UEFA Cup

October 8th, 2008 · Comments · European Competition, Hamburger SV, Hertha BSC Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg

Yesterday, the Bundesliga’s five UEFA Cup entrants were handed very tough groups for the upcoming middle stage of the UEFA Cup. While group previews will be prepared later this month, let’s take a look at the draws for Hertha, Schalke, Stuttgart, Wolfsburg and Hamburg.
1. Group A
Schalke was a top seed, despite being throttled […]

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The Sync: The Return of the Ligapokal

September 12th, 2008 · Comments · Cups

Last year the winter break lasted six long agonizing weeks. This year it will be seven. The break has been controversial for some time as even the Kaiser has called for the abandonment of this “luxury”. It is too long a layoff for the players and fans.
Meanwhile, this year the Ligapokal was not played due […]

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die Tabelle lügen nicht! Preview

August 14th, 2008 · Comments · 1. FC Köln, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Mönchengladbach, DSC Arminia Bielefeld, Eintracht Frankfurt, FC Bayern München, FC Energie Cottbus, FC Schalke 04, Hamburger SV, Hannover 96, Hertha BSC Berlin, Karlsruher SC, Relegation, SV Werder Bremen, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Bochum, VfL Wolfsburg

1st
Schalke

What You Know: If baseball’s Chicago Cubs had a baby with the Red Sox prior to 2004, Schalke would be the offspring.
What You Don’t: All things both good and bad must end.
What to Expect: Yes, Campeones! I say that, bucking all trends, and knowing full well that Schalke could be leading the league by 6 […]

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Interview With Raphael Honigstein

August 13th, 2008 · Comments · European Competition, Interviews

The new Bundesliga season is just days away, so Bundesliga Talk writers Mark Moll and Double Pivot decided to interview one of the preeminent writers and authors on the topic of German soccer, Raphael Honigstein.
Many readers may know Honigstein best from his appearances on the Football Weekly Podcast by The Guardian. Here’s the transcript of […]

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The New Gaffer: Introducing Klinsmann at Bayern München

July 10th, 2008 · Comments · FC Bayern München, Gaffers

July 1st saw the formal beginnings of five coaches’ tenures at the helms of Bundesliga clubs. Over the next several weeks every Thursday we’ll introduce these men to you. Our series of profiles begins with Bayern München’s Jürgen Klinsmann, striker par excellence and noted diving enthusiast. We detail the man, his […]

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UEFA Cup Draw: Hertha Berlin to face FC Nistru Otaci

July 1st, 2008 · Comments · European Competition, Hertha BSC Berlin

Only one German club was involved in the UEFA Cup first qualifying round draw as Hertha Berlin drew FC Nistru Otaci. Last year Hamburg, this year Hertha… that’s right, we’re off to Moldova again! Last year Hamburg won 5-1 on aggregate, and nothing less than a win is expected of Hertha Berlin either. […]

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Season Finale

May 18th, 2008 · Comments · 1. FC Köln, 1. FC Nürnberg, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Mönchengladbach, DSC Arminia Bielefeld, Eintracht Frankfurt, European Competition, FC Bayern München, FC Energie Cottbus, FC Hansa Rostock, FC Schalke 04, General, Hamburger SV, Hannover 96, Hertha BSC Berlin, Karlsruher SC, MSV Duisburg, Promotion, Relegation, SV Werder Bremen, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Bochum, VfL Wolfsburg

The 45th season of the Bundesliga has come to an end with comparatively little drama or theatrics. Bayern all but guaranteed itself the title with a busy summer in the transfer market, spending 70 million Euros on Luca Toni (the league’s top scorer), Franck Ribery (world class playmaker) and the rest. While […]

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What to look for - Week 33

May 10th, 2008 · Comments · 1. FC Nürnberg, DSC Arminia Bielefeld, FC Energie Cottbus, FC Hansa Rostock, General, MSV Duisburg, Relegation

Relegation Crunch Time
With two games remaining a total of six points is all that distinguishes the bottom five squads from one another. Three: Rostock, Duisburg, and Nürnberg technically inhabit the relegation zone with 27, 29, and 31 points respectively. Bielefeld (32 pts) and Cottbus (33) are flirting with danger, being out of immediate […]

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