At the half-way point of the season, the Bundesliga is still wide open with five teams within five points of each other. 1988 UEFA Cup winners Bayer Leverkusen are possibly surprise leaders as they have not finished higher than fifth during the last five seasons. They have the best goal difference in the league and are the only club to remain unbeaten after 17 matches.

Their closest rivals are Shalke 04 whose seventh and final Bundesliga title was back in 1958 but who won the UEFA Cup as recently as 1997. Giants Bayern Munich are hovering menacingly in third with Hamburg and Borussia Dortmund in close proximity. Last seasons champions Wolfsburg are finding it difficult to find similar form and are currently well off the pace on 8^th.

Hertha Berlin have already been cast adrift at the bottom with a single win and six points seeing them a full 6 behind next placed club Nurnberg. VfL Bochum and VfB Stuttgart have some room to breath with a four point cushion.

When the league recommences after the winter break, and the battle at the top so close, it will be an interest second half of the season in Germany.