Unlike in the past seasons, the German Bundesliga looks to be on course to one hell of a competitive campaign.
The top five sides are separated by just six points and it would shock anyone to know that seven-time defending champions Bayern are sixth, yes you heard me right, sixth and six points adrift of top spot.
It would be interesting if the other five sides keep up form and push the Bavarians to limits that they have not been pushed to in the past.
Top spot is currently occupied by RB Leipzig, arguably the best side in the Bundesliga this season.
The appointment of 32-year old tactician Julian Nagelsmann is doing wonders for the Red Bull financed side and they look like the best bet to push Bayern all the way.
After winning all their first three games, the Red Bulls endured a frustrating next six games as they won just once in that period.
However, they have now won all their past six games, scoring 25 goals and conceding just six goals.
That form cannot be matched by anyone in the top 7 leagues in Europe and it comes as no surprise that Leipzig are top of the Bundesliga.
The front four of Timo Werner, Emile Forsberg, Marcel Sabitzer and Patrik Schick have been magnificent of late and are showing no signs of slowing down any time soon.
Among the four, Werner has been grabbing the headlines with his fine scoring form that has seen him score in all his last six games.
His tally of 16 goals can only be bettered by Bayern’s goal-machine Robert Lewandowski who has netted two more (18).
It will take some stopping for Leipzig to slow down but they need not to get carried away as both Bayern and Dortmund do possess the quality to overtake them at a given point.
After holding Bayern to a 1-1 draw earlier in the season, Leipzig will face another big test in form of Dortmund on Tuesday night as the two sides face off at the Singal Induna Park.
Dortmund too have been faring well in the past couple of weeks as they have won all their past three games, scoring 11 goals whilst conceding just one.
The improvement in form has seen BVB climb into third, four points behind Leipzig.
Tuesday’s encounter offers a chance for Lucien Favre’s side to close the gap to just one and do a huge favour to the others in the chasing pack.
With Jadon Sancho, Marco Reus and Thorgan Hazard all in good form, Dortmund have a good chance to stop Leipzig especially with the fixture happening in their own back-yard.
Both sides have a few absentees going into the game with Axel Witsel, Tomas Delaney and Marcel Schmelzer all doubtful for Dortmund. Leipzig on the other hand are expected to miss the services of Kevin Kampl, Willy Orban, Ibrahima Konate and Tayler Adams.
Last season, Dortmund were double winners over Leipzig including a 4-1 hammering at the Signal Induna Park in the reverse fixture. Leipzig have triumphed just once away to Dortmund since promotion to the top tier in 2016 with the victory coming in October 2017.
As Dortmund and Leipzig clash, there is another interesting battle at the other end of the table with 14th-placed Mainz away to Werder Bremen (15th). The other two day’s fixtures will see Augsburg host Fortuna Dusseldorf while Hoffenheim are away to Union Berlin.
The other five match-day 16 fixtures will be played on Wednesday.
All the German Bundesliga match-day 16 fixtures
Tuesday, 17-12-2019
-Werder Bremen vs Mainz 05 @8:30pm
-Borussia Dortmund vs RB Leipzig @10:30pm
-Augsburg vs Dusseldorf @10:30pm
-Union Berlin vs Hoffenheim @10:30pm
Wednesday, 18-12-2019
-Bayer Leverkusen vs Hertha Berlin @8:30pm
-Borussia Monchengladbach vs Paderborn @10:30pm
-Wolfsburg vs Schalke O4 @10:30pm
-Eintracht Frankfurt vs Koln @10:30pm
-Freiburg vs Bayern Munich @10:30pm
