With a great squad ready for the Bundesliga season ahead, some impressive summer acquisitions and on the back of a year that put them on the map with some magnificent team performances and outstanding individual displays, it begs the question: are Hoffenheim in with a chance this time round? This Bundesliga season promises to be the best yet for no other reason than the quality in depth of sides is getting better and better as the months pass by, and the talent that this brilliant German division possesses continues to improve.
Aside from Hoffenheim for a moment, one would think that the competition for the Championship will be much closer than what turned out to be last year, however yet again it should be between those two sides. Whilst Bayern Munich may have slightly strengthened even further, Borussia Dortmund will want to get payback for a disappointing title challenge last year. BVB have enjoyed an excellent pre-season, nurtured some excellent talents yet again, drafted in some top quality players to fill up a squad capable of doing damage and have showed no signs of suffering since the departure of front-man Robert Lewandowski. They will want the league off Bayern this time and Jurgen Klopp will lead his troops forward and make sure they do everything they possibly can across the campaign to do so. But Bayern's dominance comes with a combination of hard work, quality, experience and a top quality coach, and they will be tough to hold off.
But asides from that, presuming they are the two that fight it out for the big one, the competition for places from 3rd down to 8th is really going to be something this year and whilst Leverkusen, Schalke, Gladbach and Wolfsburg will be in and around there as always, Mainz could replicate an excellent 12 months and improve on what they've started, expect Hoffenheim to seriously contend for those places and certainly gain some sort of a European place. Whether it be the elite in the Champions League or the exciting tournament that is the Europa League, is another story. It will be tough to gain one of the top 4 spots, but can't rule them out of it.
As everyone is aware that Germany's young winger Kevin Volland and Brazilian magician Roberto Firmino were the shining stars at Rhein-Neckar Arena last season. Volland on Joachim Low's radar and Firmino unlucky not to be included in his national sides squad for their home World Cup, they were unquestionably phenomenal. Now considered two of the league's best, they will certainly have to repeat what they did last year in order to bring more success to the club. With pace to burn, an excellent eye for goal, ability to take on an opponent in a wide or central position, ability to drive at the defence and cause problems, not to mention to shoot from distance, as well as almost mind-blowing, exasperating technique, they are special players, and Hoffenheim need them. Salihovic in midfield is fantastic, and Modeste and new man Szalai will look to add something extra too.
The defence is where they will succeed or fail this year, it seems. Whilst the attacking displays they put on show are breathtaking at times, goals conceded was a constant issue. 70 gaols conceded is not good enough at the end of the day, and with veteran captain Andreas Beck at right back, a player who knows what it's like to actually win the title, will again be crucial in their European dream. New boys Ermin Bicakcic and Kim Jin-Su With have been drafted in to hopefully soften the blow of losing USA star Fabian Johnson, who impressed so much at the World Cup this summer, after he moved to Borussia Monchengladbach.
So with many ins and outs this summer, the squad seems ready and the opening game against FC Augsburg at home can't come soon enough. It sure seems like it's going to be an enthralling season, and look out for Hoffenheim to be right in the mix of the drama.
