It's half-time in Germany's top flight as the Bundesliga heads into the winter break. Kick off! looks back at the season so far. What were the highlights from the first half of the season? Who stood out? Who disappointed? Kick off! brings you all the highs and lows, the thrills and spills, and the heroes and villains.
What a start to the season they've had! After the 14th round they'd already locked up the unofficial "winter championship" for the first half of the season. That's a record: no team has ever got an unassailable lead so early on. They've scored 44 goals, and have only conceded 7: the best attacking and defensive records in the Bundesliga this season.
What a talent, and what a career! Dortmund may have all but lost in their bid to defend their Bundesliga title, but this season is showing that Götze has what it takes to be one of the very best players in the world. At just 20, he's established himself as a playmaker and a goalscorer. He's worth an estimated 30 Million Euros.
Günter Netzer: TV pundit, advertising executive, and one of the greatest style icons of seventies football. When he speaks, the football world listens. So, Günter, what do you think about the Bundesliga season so far?
Another big name in the seventies was Frankfurt. The team boasted personalities like Charly Körbel, Bernd Hölzenbein and Jürgen Grabowski. They were glorious names, and it was a glorious chapter in the club's history, with back to back German Cup wins in 1974 and 1975. After that, things went a bit quiet at Frankfurt. But now the club is enjoying a comeback.
The most valuable players so far this season: Kießling, Adler, Dante, Ibisevic, Arango... the list goes on. All of them have been vital to their teams' successes, whether by providing goals or performing defensive heroics. One thing's for sure: their clubs wouldn't be the same without them.
