Bayern have topped the Bundesliga table at the midpoint of the season – an unofficial title known in German as the Herbstmeisterschaft – for the 26th time, achieving the feat in 2022/23 with a game to spare. After Friday’s 1-1 draw away at RB Leipzig, FCB’s position at the summit at the halfway stage was confirmed with second-place Freiburg’s 6-0 loss at Wolfsburg on Saturday. Bayern are now five points clear of Eintracht Frankfurt in second after 16 matchdays, meaning no team can usurp Julian Nagelsmann’s side before the season’s reverse fixtures begin – in this case against Frankfurt next weekend.
Good sign for rest of the season
Being top at this juncture is a very good omen for the remainder of the campaign. In 40 of the previous 59 Bundesliga seasons (68%), the team leading the table after half the fixtures had been played have gone on to lift the title. Since the introduction of three points for a win, Bayern have been crowned champions on 15 of the 16 occasions when they’ve been led at halfway.
Bayern kicked off 2023 with a 1-1 draw at RB Leipzig to stay six points ahead of their opponents.
However, Nagelsmann obviously doesn’t just want to rely on statistics. “We’ve still got lots of games left, and lots of teams will try to trip us up still,” the coach said after the game in Leipzig. The 35-year-old is looking forward to the title race in the new year: “It’s a good thing. We’re all competitors and want the challenge. We’ve still got a number of tasks to complete.”
Bayern the record Herbstmeister
With this the 26th time Bayern have been top at halfway, they are by far the best club in that regard as well. Werder Bremen follow in second having claimed the honour six times. Borussia Mönchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund are next with four each. Bayern have laid the foundations for what will hopefully be their 33rd title (and 32nd in the Bundesliga era).
New signing Yann Sommer made his Bayern debut in Leipzig:
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