2013/14 Bundesliga Wrap-Up!

The 2013/14 Bundesliga season came to a close on Saturday afternoon with many conclusions already well known before a ball was kicked at 3:30pm.

Bayern Munich had already sealed the championship nearly 7 weeks ago - the fastest ever in the history of the league - and once their fate in Europe was sealed by Real Madrid in emphatic style nearly 3 weeks ago, Pep Guardiola's men only had the DFB Pokal Final next weekend to consider seriously - they will take on Borussia Dortmund in Berlin's Olympiastadion.

It was always going to be tough for Pep Guardiola's side to match the achievements of his predecessor, Jupp Heyneckes, i.e. a then unprecedented treble of league, cup and European Cup. To be fair, Guardiola's men looked set to match that with the most perfect football in the country and it seemed, in Europe. Home or away, no one in Germany seemed to have an answer for Guardiola's men when they had their mind set on the job and even if the football wasn't quite Barca tikka-takka, it was still highly effective and wonderful to watch.

It was no surprise that Bayern Munich would lose to Augsburg away, and Borussia Dortmund at home in games that were meaningless in the league but perhaps that loss of focus would prove costly against a Real Madrid side still fighting for the league at home in Europe.

I guess, it is just well that this season has fallen slightly below the monumental standards expected - it just means that Guardiola will be working the troops harder after the World Cup to ensure that Bayern are in a position to repeat the treble. The arrival of Robert Lewandowski in the summer means Bayern will have an even more potent strike force up front.

Perhaps it is a concern for German football that one side can comfortably prized the players of the side closest to them at the top of the table, i.e. Bayern Munich have claimed Borussia Dortmund's key talismen, Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze in the last two seasons. The one reason why the Bundesliga has worked hard to get to this point is the emphasis on parity in the 18 team league and the alarm bells will be ringing as Bayern seem set to become the Real Madrid style super club that the league probably doesn't want.

On the other hand, German football's emphasis on developing young players is as strong as ever and should sustain the likes of Borussia Dortmund. The northerners have been boosted by Jurgen Klopp staying on until 2018 and that will be key in ensuring the likes of Marco Reus, Pierre-Merrick Aubemayang, etc. stay at the Westfalenstadion for some time yet as the likes of Manchester United and (hmm) Bayern chase their signatures. It is a sign that BVB are a club wanting to achieve greater success rather than sell their best players.

This season has seen Borussia Dortmund take a bit of a step backwards with a long losing streak before the Christmas break effectively ending their title challenge and even allowing Schalke and Bayer Leverkusen into the title race before both of those clubs fell by the wayside - Leverkusen's form collapsed after their exit from the Champions League and they were in danger of failing to make the competition next season until a quick form reversal also ensured Sami Hyypia's job for now.

Elsewhere, Borussia Moenchengladbach made a good start to the campaign and stayed 4th in the first half of the campaign before a winless run saw their Champions League hopes extinguished - they will still play in the Europa League along with Wolfsburg and FSV Mainz 05 though but have lost keeper Marc-Andre ter Stagen to Barcelona and will be fighting hard to keep internationals, Max Kruse and Juan Arango.

Surprises of the season? Newly promoted Hertha Berlin enjoyed a fine return to the top flight and were in contention for European football - the key now is to make their stay longer than 1-2 seasons and ensure that Germany's capital remains relevant in world football, although they have lost in-form Colombian talisman Adrian Ramos to Borussia Dortmund for next season as they look to replace Robert Lewandowski.

However, it's the other Bavarian club, FC Augsburg who are my surprise of the season. After making their Bundesliga debut only two seasons ago, Augsburg finished 8th - their highest ever spot in their history. Former Sunderland man, Ji Dong Won, Halil Altintop - identical twin of Turkish international, Hamit  - and newly selected German international, Andre Hahn were key to Augsburg's memorable season which included a home 1-0 win over Bavarian big brothers, Bayern Munich which boosted their surprise European challenge. The future is bright for one of Bavaria's many "other" clubs.

Disappointments of the season? 2013/14 was a season where Germany's heavyweights were unable to match up to Bayern Munich but it was a particularly bad season for three sides who are usually found in the top half of the table.

Former Champions League representatives, Werder Bremen, VfB Stuttgart and Hamburger SV spent much of the season fighting the drop with former European champions, Hamburger SV finishing 16th - not quite a relegation spot but they do have to play the 3rd placed 2.Bundesliga side to ensure they don't drop a division for the first time in their history.

By all accounts, it was a shocker of a season for one of Germany's big guns. Coach Bert van Maarwjik was sacked halfway through the season and there have been really no other positives from this season. Perhaps, relegation would be a good thing as it would force Hamburger SV to clean out their talented but aging squad and bring in youngsters who can get the club back into the top flight and even the Champions League.

Mind you, even the ignominy of having to play Greuther Furth for a place in the top flight could very well be the thing to turn Hamburg around.

Of the sides actually relegated, Eintracht Braunschweig gave it all they got in their first season back in the top flight in 30 years but ultimately found the going tough while FC Nurnberg's European campaign probably didn't help their chances of reversing a poor start to the season and they will yo-yo back down to 2.Bundesliga.

So here's to another Bundesliga season completed. Hopefully, next season will be better - hopefully the rest will put up more of a contest for Bayern Munich.