Bayern Munich turned the primary staff to win the Bundesliga 25 occasions once they lifted the trophy on matchday 30, being topped as champions for the fourth successive season.
Their success was constructed on a powerful defence, breaking the data for many video games with out conceding (22) and most clear sheets (20 for Manuel Neuer).
Pep Guardiola’s facet gained the title by 10 factors, forward of Wolfsburg, who outperformed expectations due to the performances of Belgian attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who was concerned in 30 objectives for the Wolves, setting the Bundesliga assists document.
Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen additionally completed within the Champions League spots, with Augsburg, Schalke, and an inconsistent Borussia Dortmund qualifying for the Europa League.
CHANGES
Regardless of successful the league within the earlier season, Guardiola sought to additional strengthen Bayern Munich, bringing in Robert Lewandowski from Borussia Dortmund to interchange Mario Mandzukic.
An damage to Javi Martinez within the Supercup left Guardiola needing a substitute in midfield, with Xabi Alonso shifting from Actual Madrid earlier than the top of the switch window. Toni Kroos went the opposite route, shifting to La Liga after taking part in over 200 video games for the Bavarian facet.
Dortmund tried to fill the Lewandowski void with Adrian Ramos and Ciro Motionless, however neither made a big effect within the Bundesliga, inflicting Jurgen Klopp to play Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at centre-forward somewhat than on the wing.
Bayer Leverkusen began their switch exercise early, signing Josip Drmic in early Could following Nurnberg’s relegation. Having certified for the Champions League, Leverkusen had been in a position to preserve the core of their squad collectively and suffered no main exits throughout the summer time as Roger Schmidt took over as head coach from interim boss Sacha Lewandowski.
Lucien Favre’s Borussia Monchengladbach noticed younger goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen go away for Barcelona for €12 million, and turned to Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer to turn out to be their new primary, arriving from Basel. Thorgan Hazard got here on mortgage from Chelsea, whereas USMNT’s Fabian Johnson moved from Hoffenheim.
Adam Szalai was one of many largest inter-Bundesliga transfers, shifting from Schalke to Hoffenheim for €6m, whereas Sidney Sam arrived on the Gelsenkirchen membership for €2.5m from Leverkusen.
Wolfsburg seemed to the Premier League to search out their summer time additions, with Nicklas Bendtner shifting from Arsenal and Germany worldwide Andre Schurrle buying and selling Chelsea for the Bundesliga.
SUMMARY
Bayern Munich’s signing of Lewandowski from Borussia Dortmund helped Guardiola carry the Bundesliga trophy for the second season in a row. The Polish striker completed second within the high scorer race, tied with Arjen Robben on 17 objectives.
Bayern had goalscorers from everywhere in the pitch, scoring 80 occasions within the season and weren’t simply reliant on Lewandowski. Nevertheless, the ahead’s absence hindered Borussia Dortmund, as Klopp’s facet fell to seventh within the desk – simply three years after successful the title.
In actual fact, Dortmund’s season was so poor at occasions, they had been backside of the desk on three totally different matchdays throughout the marketing campaign. The board stored religion with Klopp, who ultimately moved them again up the desk to complete within the final European spot.
Wolfsburg had been Bayern’s nearest challengers within the league, however had been nonetheless 13 factors behind the Bavarians. Their sturdy season was due to De Bruyne, who set a Bundesliga document with 21 assists.
Borussia Monchengladbach and Leverkusen certified for the Champions League, with Augsburg and Schalke additionally ending within the high six to qualify for the Europa League. Schalke had been in eleventh once they sacked coach Jens Keller in October, with Roberto Di Matteo returning to administration following his departure at Chelsea.
All through the season, Hamburg had three totally different managers and solely stored their top-flight standing after an additional time victory within the playoff with Karlsruher.
Paderborn performed their first season within the Bundesliga, however spent only one yr among the many massive boys, ending all-time low behind Freiburg.
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
KEVIN DE BRUYNE
De Bruyne had performed simply three Premier League video games at Chelsea, however reignited his profession within the Bundesliga, first at Werder Bremen after which at Wolfsburg. In 2014-15, he set the Bundesliga assists document, and opened the scoring within the DFB-Pokal last win over Borussia Dortmund.
MANAGER OF THE SEASON
PEP GUARDIOLA
The Spaniard had one other profitable marketing campaign within the Allianz Area dugout, guiding Bayern Munich to back-to-back titles. Bayern demolished a lot of their opponents, together with an 8-0 victory over Hamburg and a 6-0 win at Paderborn.
TOP GOALSCORER
ALEXANDER MAIER – 19 GOALS
Robert Lewandowski failed to succeed in 20 objectives in his maiden season in Munich, permitting Maier to complete forward of him within the high scorer race with 19 objectives in 26 objectives for Eintracht Frankfurt.
TEAM OF THE SEASON
NEUER; VERHAEGH, NALDO, BOATENG, RODRIGUEZ, BELLARABI, JUNUZOVIC, DE BRUYNE, CASTRO, ROBBEN; MAIER
MOST EXPENSIVE TRANSFER
Andre Schurrle
Chelsea to WOLFSBURG
€32m
KEY MOMENT OF THE SEASON
Bayern Munich went into the winter break 11 factors away from second-placed Wolfsburg, having gained their last recreation in December due to a late Arjen Robben purpose. Mainz seemed to have held Bayern to a draw, however Robben rose highest to fulfill a cross from Juan Bernat to make sure that Pep Guardiola’s facet held a commanding lead on the finish of the Hinrunde.
