Matchday 27 Review: The Bundesliga is Great For Youngsters and Other Thoughts

The Bundesliga continued its return with a derby like no other and a raft of exciting games. Matchday 27 started with a derby like no other as Hertha Berlin made sure Berlin was blue again with a 4-0 hammering of Union. The matchday continued as Bayern had their revenge and maintained a four-point lead over Dortmund with a 5-2 win over Frankfurt. Dortmund kept up the chase with goals from fullback pairing Achraf and Guerreiro to continue their hold over Wolfsburg. Havertz and Leverkusen continued their good form with an intriguing 3-1 win over Moenchengladbach, overtaking them in the process. Bremen continued their brave fight to stave off relegation with a gritty 1-0 win over Freiburg. Find below, my thoughts and observations from Matchday 27.

Bundesliga Is A Safe Haven For Developing Stars

The saying, 'if you're good enough, you're old enough' seems to be the mantra of the Bundesliga. In recent years, the Bundesliga has become a league for developing young stars. It has churned out the likes of  Marco Reus, Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira, Toni Kroos, Thomas Muller, and Leroy Sane, who have become world-class players and stars. Jovic and Pulisic are recent graduates of the Bundesliga development school. The new school includes Jadon Sancho, Achraf Hakimi, Kevin Mbabu, Mateus Cunha, Kai Havertz, and Alfonso Davies. These are but a few young stars who have set the league alight.

This success, however, was not overnight. This dates back to the year 2000, the aftermath of the disastrous Euro 2000 campaign by the German national team. The German FA in the revamp required professional football clubs all over the country to run and maintain youth academies. In turn, they are allowed to participate in their competitions.

This season has been no different. The likes of Sancho, Havertz, Hakimi, Cunha, McKennie, and others have impressed and have had European giants look their way. In Alfonso Davies, Bayern has a replacement for the outgoing David Alaba. They ensure the league remains competitive, keep getting better and command enormous transfer fees for their clubs. 

Dortmund-Wolfsburg: A Modern-Day Curse?

 When Die Wolf's players stepped out onto the Volkswagen pitch, they must have had two major goals: maintain their European spot with a victory while breaking their recent Dortmund hoodoo. They failed in both cases and extended their winless streak to nine Bundesliga games since the 2015 season. In the same period, Wolfsburg have scored three goals but conceded  26. Such streaks tend to have an effect on the losing team as whenever they are paired against their bogey side, they lose the game even before it starts. It wasn't so this weekend as The Wolves gave a good account of themselves but to no avail.

Die Schwarzgelben, on the other hand, won't mind if this streak goes on. It only means a guaranteed win once both sides meet. 

Biggest Joke In Football: Social Distancing

Last week Hertha players were in the limelight for flouting social distancing rules during celebrations against Hoffenheim. This week they were able to behave themselves despite the emotions that followed their revenge win over Berlin rivals Union.

Sancho, Hakimi and Akanji celebrating Achraf's goal

In some sort of weird reverse, the team that came up with the best socially distant celebration last week forgot it this week as their players hugged each other after their second goal against Wolfsburg. Thorgan Hazard and the bench continued making social distance an afterthought as there were high fives all around.

Leverkusen players continued to forget the new 'rules' as their celebrations had no element of social distancing.

FC Koln players celebrating one of their goals 

The fascinating 2-2 draw between Fc Cologne and Fortuna Dusseldorf saw a social distancing go out the window as there were hugs, chest bumps, and a passionate disregard for it in the exciting game.

This is not to say the players were deliberate in ignoring the new normal. Instead, they are finding it hard to forget old habits. Football is a game of passion, joy, and other intense emotions, and it needs some physical contact to express it. Granted, it is a necessity to help combat COVID-19 as the valiant scientists find a cure (or a vaccine), but it is hard and might take some time to get used to.

It is unlikely the authorities will sanction the players and teams, and this is good as the already diluted nature of football's return is hard to swallow. Further education and practice might make this better.

The new normal is not normal, after all.