Unbeaten trio sitting pretty at the top of the Bundesliga
FC Bayern München, RB Leipzig and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim are flying high at the top of the Bundesliga after making it through the first 10 games of the season without defeat.
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Bayern have made something of a habit of strong starts in recent years, so it should come as no surprise to see them leading the way after ten games. This is the sixth consecutive season that they have topped the table at this stage since Borussia Dortmund forged ahead in their title-winning campaign of 2010/11.
Watch: Bayern's top scorer Robert Lewandowski on the competitive season so far:
Yet few could have predicted that with nearly a third of the season gone, the record German champions would be joined on the podium by Leipzig - a side who recently embarked on their maiden Bundesliga campaign - and Hoffenheim, who finished a point above the relegation play-off place last season. The fact that all three clubs have yet to taste defeat is nothing short of astounding.
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A brief look across the continent helps to give some sense of the achievement. In the so-called five major leagues - Germany, Spain, England, Italy and France - there are a total of five unbeaten teams. Three of them play in the Bundesliga.
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Bayern: So far, so good for Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti made a dream start to life as Bayern coach, notching up eight consecutive wins in all competitions. The shine started to wear off a little after defeat to Club Atletico de Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, followed by back-to-back draws in the Bundesliga. But the champions soon got back on track, with a comfortable victory over PSV Eindhoven sparking a five-game winning streak.
Watch: Bayern and Hoffenheim battle to a 1-1 draw on Matchday 10:
Ancelotti is under far greater pressure to win trophies than either Ralph Hasenhüttl or Julian Nagelsmann - his counterparts at Leipzig and Hoffenheim respectively - but all in all, the Italian has settled in rather nicely at the Allianz Arena. Bayern have been top of the Bundesliga since the opening day of the season, they beat Dortmund to lift the Supercup, and they have reached the Last 16 of both the DFB Cup and the Champions League.
After the international break, the Bavarians travel to the SIGNAL IDUNA PARK for another showdown with Dortmund, which could either underline their dominance - or blow the title race wide open.
Leipzig: From strength to strength
Even in their wildest dreams, Leipzig could not have imagined that they would be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Bayern at this point in the season. Since their historic victory over Dortmund on Matchday 2, Hasenhüttl's fearless young side have taken the Bundesliga by storm, making the best start by a promoted side since MSV Duisburg in 1997/98.
Watch: Highlights of Leipzig's 3-1 win over Mainz:
Leipzig currently top the form table, having made it five wins from five after beating 1. FSV Mainz 3-1 on Matchday 10. If they can continue to produce similar performances, they will inevitably be a part of the conversation when it comes to the business end of the season.
With no Cup or European football to distract them, the newcomers have the advantage of being able to focus solely on the Bundesliga. They will already be preparing for the trip to Bayer 04 Leverkusen a week on Friday, when they can - temporarily at least - go top of the pile.
Hoffenheim: Relentless
This time last season Hoffenheim were in 17th, having dropped 24 of a possible 30 points under Markus Gisdol. He was replaced by Huub Stevens - for all of three-and-a-half months - before the Dutchman’s ill health forced the club to turn to a 28-year-old from their youth academy before the season was out.
Watch: The Hoffenheim way under Nagelsmann:
It has worked out wonderfully for all involved so far. Nagelsmann steered the Sinsheim side to 15th, and has begun this campaign as he ended the last: relentlessly picking up points. Leverkusen, Hertha Berlin and FC Schalke 04 - each teams expected to be in European contention at the start of the season - have all been put to the sword.
But for a last-minute strike from Leipzig’s Marcel Sabitzer on the opening day and an unfortunate own goal from Steven Zuber at the Allianz last time out, Hoffenheim would also be able to boast the scalps of the only two teams above them in the table. A meeting with Hamburger SV awaits after the international break, and should Die Kraichgauer win that as expected, they might find themselves top of the the pile for the first time since January 2009.
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