Bundesliga Power Rankings for Week 8
Owing to the international break it has been nearly two weeks since a ball was last kicked in the Bundesliga.
As such, with the Week 9 schedule slowly looming, this list intends to take a very belated look at the high rollers and losers after the eighth matchday.
If this takes off, then expect to see weekly rankings every Monday (following the weekend's fixtures) starting from next week onward.
Remember, this list is not formulated solely on league position, although this does play a determining factor.
Primarily it intends to analyse the teams that are going in both the wrong and the right direction in Germany's elite league.
So, without further ado, let's get started with the team who are currently bottom of the heap in regards to momentum and work our way up to the big guns.
18. 1.FC Nurnberg
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Nurnberg have made a far-from-successful start to the 2013-14 Bundesliga season, and last weekend's 5-0 demolition at the hands of struggling Hamburg did them no favours.
What was worse was that it was in front of a home crowd—not great for the club's general morale.
Having failed to pick up a single win in their opening eight fixtures, the side currently find itself sitting in the relegation playoff zone.
While it is still early days, this terrible start to the year does not bode well.
17. VfL Wolfsburg
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In fairness to the 2008-09 Bundesliga champions (that seems like an age ago for most fans now), the Wolves' start to the season has been far from atrocious.
Sitting in 14th place may not sound great, but at the same time it's important to remember they are currently only four points off of fourth spot, owing to the tightness of the division.
What earns them a spot so low down on the list is the somewhat humiliating 2-0 defeat they suffered at home to the relegation-bound Eintracht Braunschweig.
It's already starting to look like Braunschweig are something on an "easy" six points this year and as such, losing your home fixture against a newly promoted side is a little embarrassing.
Hopefully an away fixture against FC Augsburg will be just what Wolfsburg need to bounce back this weekend.
16. SC Freiburg
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Along with Nurnberg, SC Freiburg are the only other side without a victory this year.
It's a far cry from last season's campaign, when the black and whites came devilishly close to making it into fourth spot.
The loss of Max Kruse to Gladbach has no doubt played a huge part in this sudden decline.
A 1-1 draw at home to Eintracht Frankfurt is the only thing that keeps them ahead of the previously named teams on this list—but only just.
15. Eintracht Braunschweig
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Braunschweig are probably not quite deserving of this rank.
The team has looked poor this year and—despite recently looking more up to the standard expected of the Bundesliga—probably won't be here next season.
Still, their debut victory away at the Volkswagen Arena has merited a higher spot than three of their rivals.
Enjoy this lofty perch while you can.
This weekend Schalke travel to Braunschweig, with Adam Szalai and Kevin-Prince Boateng no doubt both baying for blood.
14. FC Augsburg
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Despite initial back-to-back defeats, Augsburg recovered well to levy themselves away from the danger zone.
Now however they are slowly starting to be drawn back in—with a 4-1 demolition at the hands of Schalke sending them down into the bottom half.
Still, the Fuggerstadter (I love that name) have shown resilience before this year and, with a match against the currently rocking Wolfsburg coming up, could pick up an important and stabilizing three points.
13. Eintracht Frankfurt
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Frankfurt have been sat in 13th position for the last four consecutive matchdays—and so it seemed fairly fitting to slot them into unlucky No. 13 here.
In an odd way it almost feels like they're here to make up the numbers.
I doubt they will end up being relegated, but at the same time they definitely won't challenge for European places.
An impending home tie against Nurnberg could see them propel out of that lower mid-table limbo however.
12. Mainz 05
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Mainz made a fantastic start to the season, but have really dropped the ball over the last few weeks.
Finding themselves sitting on nine points from three games, Mainz suddenly seemed to lose all form and sense of direction, as four consecutive defeats followed this plentiful period.
Last week the side managed to sturdy the ship somewhat, with a late equalizer securing them a point against Hoffenheim.
Still, one point in five games is a terrible return, and if this type of form continues, they could suddenly find themselves slipping perilously close to the foot of the table.
11. Hamburger SV
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Hamburg have had a rough old time of it recently, but their 5-0 destruction of Nurnberg, coupled with the new positive attitude that Bert van Marwijk has brought to the club, shows great promise for the weeks ahead.
Their victory took them three points clear of the drop zone.
More crucially than that, it instilled real belief into a side that had picked up just five points in the seven games.
Hamburg need to use this momentum to string together a few decent results. At such an early stage in the season, it could still be possible for a club of their quality to turn things around and push for a top-six finish.
10. Hoffenheim
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Hoffenheim are definitely my favorite team to watch play this season.
It's not often a side sits with a goal difference of zero after eight games has scored 20 goals.
A horrendously leaky defense, coupled with a brilliant strike force, makes for some entertaining viewing—but does also suggest that the side is more than likely bound for a classic bit of mid-table obscurity.
Their position here reflects that.
9. Werder Bremen
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There isn't really a whole lot that can be said about Bremen right now.
An inconsistent start to the year has found the Green-Whites sitting plum in the middle of the table.
Two early 1-0 victories teased at a potential Europa League push for the team this year—and I wouldn't totally rule it out.
However, if they wish to pursue this goal, then the side needs to be more consistent. Three wins, two draws and three defeats means it's likely they will find themselves in the same boat as Hoffenheim come the end of the year.
8. Stuttgart
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Much like Bremen, Stuttgart are inconsistent at the best time of the year.
What earns them a spot one place higher on the list is the fact that they have at least recovered well from three consecutive defeats at the start of the season.
Netting 11 points out of a possible 15 from then onward is a fairly healthy return.
Next up is a tricky trip away to the improving Hamburg.
7. Hannover 96
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It really bugs me that Hannover play in red when their emblem is so green.
Anyway, Die Roten have made a solid start to the year, currently finding themselves sitting in a Europa League qualifying spot.
What drops them a little further down the list than one might expect is the somewhat low tally of four points from four games that the side has recently picked up.
This is likely to only worsen, with an away fixture to BVB on Saturday.
6. Hertha Berlin
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Hertha Berlin have made a fantastic return to the Bundesliga this year after just a year away from the top flight.
Currently just a point off of the top four, the side from the capital can be very proud of its achievements so far.
While this fantastic start to the campaign is a great morale booster, Die Alte Dame has to make sure that they do enough to secure a spot in the 2014-15 season before any dreams of Europa League football start to enter their heads.
5. Schalke 04
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Schalke are a team well and truly going in the right direction.
With two wins out of two in their Champions League group, the side has picked up 10 points out of a possible 15 in the Bundesliga recently—with the one blemish a forgivable defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich.
Having messed up from a winning position a few weeks ago against Hoffenheim, the side did well to recover and go on to trounce Augsburg 4-1 in the last matchday.
With an away fixture against Braunschweig as their port of call this weekend, that good run should continue for the Royal Blues.
4. Borussia Dortmund
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Dortmund had a weekend to forget last time out, with their unbeaten streak falling at the hands of Borussia Monchengladbach.
A 2-0 away defeat was not what BVB needed just a little while after a disappointing draw with Nurnberg.
Taking just four points in their last three matches has let Bayern and Leverkusen right back into the picture.
Jurgen Klopp's side must pick up the win against Hannover this weekend or else risk falling into a damaging point-losing vortex.
3. Borussia Monchengladbach
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While Gladbach are in reality only four points clear of the team in 14th, they have made a fantastically positive start to this year's campaign.
The signings of Raffael and Max Kruse have turned a somewhat lackluster side into real Champions League contenders.
This weekend their fishy away form will be tested with a challenging trip to Hertha Berlin.
If they can show some real nous and pick up the victory, then they will be well and truly mounting their claim as potential top-four finishers this campaign.
The impressive victory against Dortmund has already exhibited that they are capable of beating some of the best teams in the world on their day.
2. Bayer Leverkusen
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After the exploits of BVB and Bayern in last year's UEFA Champions League, there probably aren't too many fans out there who saw Leverkusen being able to keep up with two of Europe's elite clubs.
With the exception of one surprisingly poor showing at Old Trafford against a decent looking Manchester United side, Leverkusen have made one of the best starts in their recent history.
Having sat at no lower than third place all season long and with just one blip (a 2-0 defeat away at Schalke), the 2010-11 Bundesliga runners-up look a real force to reckon with again this year.
Can they go one better than their five second-place finishes?
In a division with Dortmund and Bayern it seems unlikely, but their 1-1 draw with last season's treble winners shows that they are capable of competing with their rivals.
Currently just a point off the summit of the table, Bayer will look to keep up with their foes as they travel away to Hoffenheim Friday.
1. Bayern Munich
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Surprise, surprise: Bayern are top of yet another table.
The European champions have far from had it all their own way this season—but with only four points out of a possible 24 dropped (and two of those away at Leverkusen), Pep Guardiola's unbeaten side is looking dominant once again.
Their 3-1 demolition of Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium was a real sign to the world that this elite side is as good as ever—maybe even better than before!
A home fixture against struggling Mainz looks like another easy three points for Franck Ribery and company this weekend.
For the sake of neutrality and competition at the top of the league, let's just hope that the team from the Rhineland-Palatinate gives them a surprise run for their money.
