Bayern
München
Few leagues have had such dominant champions as Germany's Bayern München, claiming seven league titles in seven seasons and playing seven cup finals, winning four. European trophy silverware is two Champions League silver in 2005 and 2007.
Bayern München can field national team quality players everywhere on the pitch and has exciting prospects in Ulf Gohmann, Markus Riege and Jochen Wachholz, all already first team players. There is also a good number of players with huge experience that can provide stability and knowhow to the team.
Scoring against Germany's finest is quite hard and last season only 15 goal scorers managed to beat their defence and keeper. The number of goals let in last season shows that the other teams are getting better but defence of Bayern is as solid as ever.
Characteristics for Bayern München has to be the international players with great experience who have been playing football for many years. Aging players could be a factor and surely Luis Costa has plans to renew the team soon, to remain as dominant as before.
Next...
Bayern München are aware of the domestic teams can challenge them for the league gold, and still they long for the European champions league gold. If they are ever to win the finest of the trophies, it has to be now within two seasons, before team enters generation shift.
The rest of the league is catching up though, and the 2008/2009 campaign was decided in the very last game. Today there is even more talented players, more experienced managers and better teams in Germany, all hoping to end the dominance of Bayern. Perhaps the closest battles for a league gold and cup will be played in Germany this season and the winner will earn worldwide acknowledgement and respect as being the great team and manager they are.
Luis Costa, Bayern München boss
Seven league titles, four league cups, two champions league silver medals. One of the very best managers in the game.
René Riis Andersen, Vfl Bochum
Runner up two seasons in a row, DFB Cup winner. Needs to step up.
Fabio Ashcar, FC Nürnberg
Several league and cup wins in Croatia, has rebuild a great team into better, strong contender.
Mark Doney, Werder Bremen
Winner of CL, Uefa Cup, Italian champion, strong contender.
Foot of Ruud van Nistelrooy?
Ruud, joined FC Nürnberg from Inter and made an immediate impact scoring 6 goals in 3 matches, becoming fan-favorite at Frankenstadion.
Could be the best striker in Germany at the moment.