RB Leipzig show no signs of a hangover to keep pace with Bayern Munich | Andy Brassell

Jan 23, 2017

Leipzig’s exciting, young squad, like Hoffenheim in 2009, have made a fine start to life in the Bundesliga and so far look to be the real deal

You’d only expect it to happen once in a generation at best, not twice in a decade. RB Leipzig’s spectacular first half of the season is not without precedent, though. The parallels with the last promoted club from Bundesliga 2. to make their presence felt at the top-flight’s summit so immediately after promotion have come thick and fast – perhaps unsurprisingly, since Hoffenheim’s coach in their lightning start to their Bundesliga debut campaign of 2008-09 was Ralf Rangnick, who is now Leipzig’s sporting director, having guided the team to promotion last season.

There’s plenty more room for comparison; having shot up from regional league obscurity on the back of big bucks, Leipzig have also followed the Hoff’s example of investing the wealth on excellent young players. Much of Germany’s football public also hoped that, like Hoffenheim in early 2009, the bottom would fall out for Leipzig post-Christmas. Having been Herbstmeister – “autumn champions” – Hoffenheim dropped out of the European places entirely and ultimately finished seventh.

Tags: Bundesliga European club football Football RB Leipzig Sport