Germany: 2009-10 Bundesliga Preview

There's an episode of Seinfeld-the one where Kramer is mentoring a Miss America pageant contestant- where Jerry and George are watching TV in their hotel and George suddenly blurts out "Hey! Yankee game!" Jerry flips the channel and Don Mattingly promptly splits his pants. What does any of this have to do with German soccer? Not much, except when I remembered that the major European domestic leagues get underway tomorrow, like Costanza I thought "Hey! Bundesliga!"

In recent seasons the Bundesliga has emerged as one of Europe's most competitive leagues, with a "Bayern Munich vs. the Field" format unfolding. Of the last eight titles, the big, bad Bavarians have captured four, while four other squads have captured one each. Think of Bayern as the Bundlesiga's Tiger Woods. They open each season as favorites, this year being no exception, and whether or not they play up to expectations determines if a squad from the field can emerge as champions.

Which outsiders can mount a challenge this season? My darkhorse pick is Schalke. The Gelsenkirchen outfit has come close in recent seasons, but are still without a league title since 1958. The addition of master manager Felix Magath should enhance their championship credentials. Plenty of others are in the mix- Hamburg, Wolfsburg, Werder Bremen- but in a crowded group, there's no reason not to pick the safe bet, Bayern Munich, to win their record 22nd title.

Germany knows how to open the season in style. Like the NFL, the curtain-raiser is a primetime affair featuring the defending champs. Friday's only game has Wolfsburg opening at home against 2007 champs Stuttgart. The rest of the league gets started over the weekend.

Europe's Overlooked Managerial Star

Following Chelsea's FA Cup win over Everton, the New York Times asked if outgoing Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink is the best manager in the world. While his name, along with those of Jose Mourinho, Alex Fegruson and Carlo Ancelotti often dominate the headlines, Europe's most underrated manager plies his trade in Germany.

The surprising Bundesliga title captured by Wolfsburg this season is another mark on the impressive resume of Felix Magath. With three titles in five years, Magath now heads to Schalke, where he may be the coach that finally turns the perennial contenders into league champs. Magath previously captured league/cup doubles in his first two seasons with Bayern Munich (2005 and 2006), but in typically impatient Bayern fashion, he was fired after a slow start to his third campaign. In 2003 he lead Stuttgart to a second-place finish, their best mark in 11 years.

Is Magath the best in the world? Not quite. But he has earned his place among the discussion of Europe's elite managers. When Franz Beckenbauer recommends you for knighthood, you must be doing something impressive.

A Playoff for Europe

The beauty of the European domestic season is the simplicity of the schedule. You play everyone in your league twice- once at home and once on the road. There is no fairer way to determine a champion. Many of my uniformed American friends are shocked to learn there are no playoffs in European soccer. Especially in the NBA and NHL (and increasingly so in MLB and NFL), the regular season is merely a precursor to the real season- the playoffs. So the thought of a sport without playoffs is difficult for American fans to comprehend.

I would never suggest that the European leagues change their formats, but let's imagine what domestic league playoffs might look like in the top four leagues. We'll take eight teams, playing a two-game aggregate for the quarters and semis, followed by a one-game championship at a neutral site. Based on the current standings in England, Germany, Italy and Spain, your match-ups would look like this:

England
(1) Manchester United vs. (8) Tottenham
(2) Liverpool vs. (7) Fulham
(3) Chelsea vs. (6) Everton
(4) Arsenal vs. (5) Aston Villa
-The separation at the top of this year's Premier League is quite significant, so you're looking at a three-team fight. ManU cruises to the final and awaits the winner of another Liverpool-Chelsea battle.

Germany
(1) Wolfsburg vs. (8) Hoffenehim
(2) Bayern Munich vs. (7) Schalke
(3) Hertha Berlin vs. (6) Hamburg
(4) Stuttgart vs. (5) Borussia Dortmund
-Only 12 points separate the eight Bundlesliga playoff qualifiers, so this tournament is anything goes. Bayern Munich would be the favorites, but their form in 2009 has been anything but consistent.

Italy
(1) Inter Milan vs. (8) Udinese
(2) AC Milan vs. (7) Palermo
(3) Juventus vs. (6) AS Roma
(4) Fiorentina vs. (5) Genoa
-The Champions League has not been kind to Inter in recent years, so this format may not be for them. With three trips to the European Final since 2003, however, it is a better fit for their crosstown rivals.

Spain
(1) Barcelona vs. (8) Málaga
(2) Real Madrid vs. (7) Deportivo La Coruña
(3) Sevilla vs. (6) Villarreal
(4) Valencia vs. (5) Atlético Madrid
-Given the 15-point gap between second and third place in La Liga, anything outside of a Barcelona-Real final would be a shock.

Germany: A Race Worth Watching

Don't expect a collection of thrilling finishes in Europe's domestic leagues this spring. Manchester United and Inter Milan enjoy robust seven-point advantages in England and Italy. Barcelona's four-point cushion at the top of La Liga appears safe, although Barca must navigate a trip to second-place Real Madrid in May. For a wide-open race, Germany's Bundesliga is the league to watch this spring.

Hertha Berlin, seeking their first-ever Bundesliga title, currently hold a one-point lead over Hamburg and a two-point lead over TSG Hoffenheim, a side that were playing in the third division just two seasons ago. Wolfsburg and defending champions Bayern Munich are only four points off the pace. Four other sides are within 10 points of first with 12 games remaining.

Berlin face a tough finishing schedule, with road tests at Hoffenheim and Hamburg on consecutive Saturdays in late April/early May. Hamburg hosts Hoffenheim on April 4th and have a manageable schedule that could lead to their first league title since 1983, the same season they won their lone European Cup.

The Final Countdown

There's plenty at stake this weekend as the league seasons in Italy, France, Germany and Spain come to a close. Here's a preview.

Italy: The scudetto is on the line as Inter Milan looks to hold off Roma. Inter, who hold a one-point lead, are at Parma, while Roma are at Catania Calcio. Those two sides will join third-place Juventus in next year's Champions League, with the fourth spot going to Fiorentina or AC Milan. Fiorentina hold a two-point lead and are away to Torino. AC Milan, who hold the advantage on goal differential, host Udinese. All games kickoff Sunday at 9 AM Eastern.

France: A draw should be enough to give Lyon a record seventh-straight Ligue 1 crown when they travel to Auxerre. Bordeaux will look to erase the two-point gap when they visit Lens. Both games are slated for 2:50 PM Eastern on Saturday.

Germany: Bayern Munich have already won the Bundesliga, but the jockeying continues for European positions. Werder Bremen will look to hold off third-place Schalke for an automatic spot in the Champions League group stages. Even if Schalke can't erase the two-point deficit, they'll still head to Champions League qualifying. Four teams are tied at 51 points for two UEFA Cup slots- Bayer Leverkusen and Hamburg currently lead on goal differential over Wolfsburg and Stuttgart. The finales kickoff Saturday at 9:30 AM Eastern.

Spain: Real Madrid clinched the title two weeks ago. Villarreal and Barcelona will join them in next year's Champions League. Atletico Madrid will only need a point against Valencia to top Sevilla for the fourth spot, but if Atletico lose and Sevilla defeat Atheltic Bilbao, Sevilla will earn fourth on goal differential. The final games start Sunday at noon Eastern.

Scotland: Due to a series of scheduling quirks, Glasgow Rangers, trailing rivals Celtic by four points, will play three league games on the road in six days beginning Saturday. With two games in hand on Celtic, Rangers will be at Motherwell on Saturday, at St. Mirren on Monday, and at Aberdeen on Thursday. Celtic finish on Thursday at Dundee United. Two days after the league season ends, Rangers face Queen of South in the Scottish Cup Final.

Triumph for Bayern, Real

It wasn't pretty, but Bayern Munich wrapped up the Bundesliga today with a 0-0 draw away to VfL Wolfsburg. It's the 20th Bundlesliga title for the Bavarians and third domestic double in four seasons.

Later in the day, Real Madrid clinched their 31st La Liga title, coming from behind down a man to post a 2-1 win over Osasuna.

Inter Milan hoped to join the celebration Sunday, but fell in the Milan derby 2-1 to AC Milan. Saturday, a goalless draw against Nice kept Lyon from wrapping up a seventh-straight French Ligue 1 title.

More Hardware for Bayern

Bayern Munich stayed on track for a domestic double with today's 1-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup final in Berlin. Luca Toni's extra time goal gave Bayern their record 14th cup.

With five games left in the Bundeslia season, Bayern hold a comfortable 10-point lead over Werder Bremen. The real intrigue down the stretch will be for Germany's second and third Champions League slots. Werder Bremen lead Schalke by two points for a berth in the group stages. Hamburg SV and VfB Stuttgart are three points back of third place, which carries a ticket to the third qualifying round.