With the conclusion of all matches in the seventeenth round of the Bundesliga, the first half of the Bundesliga season has officially come to an end.
As the Bundesliga enters the winter break, the three questions most watched by the public and fans are:
Can Wolfsburg break Bayern Munich's monopoly once again?
Can Bayern Munich win the Treble?
What kind of record will Borussia Dortmund finish with?
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In the 2008-09 season, Wolfsburg under Magath had already broken Bayern's monopoly on the Bundesliga title.
And this season, a brand-new Wolfsburg has made a comeback!
Since the opening match's upset victory over defending champion Bayern, Wolfsburg has secured sixteen wins and one draw in the seventeen League matches of the first half, accumulating 49 points, and winning the 2014-15 Bundesliga half-season championship without any suspense!
You should know that since the Bundesliga was founded in 1963, almost two-thirds of the half-season champions have eventually won the title.
Based on probability alone, Wolfsburg, leading second-place Bayern by as much as seven points, has a great chance of lifting the Meisterschale after the season ends.
Of course, does Bayern have a chance to overtake Wolfsburg in the second half of the season?
There is a probability.
After all, there are still seventeen matches in the second half.
Wolfsburg also has to participate in the knockout stages of the Europa League, which will definitely have an impact on the League.
Moreover, compared to Bayern's deep bench, Wolfsburg's substitute lineup is still a bit thin.
If they lose games and drop points in the second half, it wouldn't be surprising.
However, judging from Wolfsburg's current form, they have already taken a periodic lead in this title race.
The seven-point gap is enough for them to handle the second half of the season with ease... As for Bayern, they have been affected by the post-World Cup syndrome and a wave of injuries this season, which is also an important reason for the team falling behind in the League.
Winning the Treble will still be very difficult for Guardiola's Bayern.
Leading the League is Wolfsburg, and in the Champions League, giants like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Chelsea are also coming on strong.
Aside from the German Cup, which is basically in their hands, Bayern needs to go all out in the League and the Champions League—as for Borussia Dortmund's performance in the first half, it was simply terrible.
The Yellow Hornets almost bottomed out at the half-season mark of the League; currently, they are in second-to-last place on the table.
This isn't a crushing defeat in a single match, but the record for the half-season League, which is enough to leave fans dumbfounded.
However, the team has quality players in the front, middle, and back, so relegation is unlikely.
But if there is still little improvement in the second half, it's very likely they won't secure a ticket to next season's Champions League.
This would also be a heavy blow for Dortmund!
In addition to these three high-profile questions, major media outlets are also conducting their annual half-season review!
First, the League table situation!
Wolfsburg, with 16 wins and 1 draw, totaling 49 points, sits firmly at the top of the table;
Bayern, with a record of 13 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss, totaling 42 points, sits in second place;
Leverkusen, with a record of 7 wins, 7 draws, and 3 losses, totaling 28 points, is in third; Mönchengladbach, with a record of 7 wins, 6 draws, and 4 losses, totaling 27 points, is temporarily fourth.
With the half-season over, the title race situation has become clear.
Wolfsburg and Bayern are already leading the third-place "Leverkusen" by more than ten points.
The third or fourth-place teams simply cannot threaten the title race between the top two.
It can be said that this season, Wolfsburg has replaced Dortmund in a two-horse race with Bayern!
Secondly, in terms of the top scorers list, Wolfsburg's number ten Mark is far ahead with 21 goals.
In second place is the tall Frankfurt striker "Eagle King" Alexander Meier, who exploded this season.
He scored 13 goals in the seventeen matches of the first half!
In third place is Bayern's "Flying Dutchman" Robben, who scored 10 goals.
It's worth mentioning that Polish striker Lewandowski, who moved from Dortmund to Bayern, lost his tactical status as the primary attacker at Bayern, resulting in a sharp decrease in goals.
And Dortmund, having lost Lewandowski, has no one to shoulder the burden of scoring goals, leading them to be stuck in the relegation zone.
This transfer can be described as a lose-lose for both Lewandowski and Dortmund!
As for the assists list, De Bruyne, with fourteen assists, is far ahead of the other assist specialists in the Bundesliga.
And in second place is Mark, with eight assists!
It's worth mentioning that the number of times the Wolfsburg twins assisted each other is also the highest in the entire Bundesliga.
A total of six times!
On Christmas Eve, the Bundesliga officials also announced the Bundesliga Half-Season Player of the Year:
Mark, who scored twenty-one goals and provided eight assists, unsurprisingly defeated opponents like Robben, De Bruyne, Meier, and Jérôme Boateng to be elected the 2014-15 Bundesliga Half-Season MVP!
In addition to winning the Bundesliga Half-Season MVP, Mark was also selected for the Half-Season Best XI.
Selected alongside him were his teammates De Bruyne and Naldo.
The Half-Season Best XI are:
Goalkeeper: Bürki (Freiburg)
Defenders: Verhaegh (Augsburg), Naldo (Wolfsburg), Jérôme Boateng (Bayern)
Defensive Midfielder: Xabi Alonso (Bayern)
The four attacking midfielders are Mark (Wolfsburg), De Bruyne (Wolfsburg), Müller (Bayern),
and Robben (Bayern);
The two forwards are Meier (Frankfurt) and Choupo-Moting (Schalke).
As the League leaders, Wolfsburg had three players selected, which is enough to show that their outstanding performance has greatly benefited the team.
After being elected the Bundesliga Half-Season MVP, Mark also received congratulations from his agent, coach, teammates, and friends.
Wolfsburg winning the Bundesliga half-season title also allowed Mark to complete the [Bundesliga Half-Season Champion] season task, earning five potential points.
Being elected the Bundesliga Half-Season MVP and to the Half-Season Best XI also earned him five potential points.
Combined with the ten potential points obtained from the previously completed [European Golden Boy] season task, he suddenly had twenty potential points at his disposal!
"System! I want to add points!"
After summoning the [System Interface], Mark quickly browsed through his various attributes.
He then dumped all twenty potential points into the [Reaction] attribute!
Since reaching the limit of eighty, double potential points were required.
Therefore, twenty potential points only raised the [Reaction] attribute from 80 to the 90 mark!
The faster the reaction, the faster he makes decisions and performs technical moves on the field.
This concerns whether he can always stay ahead of his opponents on the field!
It must be added!
After finishing adding the points, Mark closed the system panel with satisfaction, then grabbed the dog that was biting his slippers and petted it vigorously: "Xiao Hei, looks like this Christmas, it's just the two of us single dogs together."
The dog just stuck out its tongue and responded to its master's words with "Woof, woof, woof."
Before he could finish speaking, the phone rang suddenly.
"Kevin?"
The caller was De Bruyne.
"Where are you?"
"I'm at home."
"Come over to my house tonight to spend Christmas Eve together!"
Hearing this, Mark was stunned for a moment, then his heart couldn't help but feel warm.
His status as an orphan was no secret.
Perhaps it was precisely because he didn't want Mark to spend Christmas Eve alone.
That's why De Bruyne called to invite Mark to spend Christmas Eve together.
Facing De Bruyne's kindness, Mark did not refuse but readily agreed: "Sure!"
Christmas Eve in Europe is a day for families to gather together.
And it was also the first time Mark had been invited to someone else's home for Christmas Eve.
Holding a bottle of expensive Lafite red wine, Mark adjusted his scarf and then pressed the doorbell.
"Ding-dong~~~"
"Coming!"
After a while, the door opened.
What met his eyes was De Bruyne's familiar face.
Seeing it was Mark, De Bruyne immediately revealed a bright smile: "You're here!"
"Merry Christmas Eve, here is a small gift for you..."
..
Taking the red wine Mark handed over, De Bruyne immediately put his arm around Mark's shoulder: "Come on in!"
De Bruyne and his girlfriend Michelle are both devout believers.
So, when Mark stepped into the living room, he saw a colorful Christmas tree decorated in the corner!
"Just in time, the turkey is about to come out of the oven!"
Most Christmas Eve customs in Europe are similar.
It's nothing more than the hostess being busy in the kitchen and the host chatting with the guests in the living room.
This was the first Christmas Eve Mark had spent since his transmigration.
And it was even at someone else's house!
Everything was a bit fresh to him.
Sitting on the sofa in the living room, De Bruyne also started chatting with Mark.
About the team, about games, and even talked about the ownership of the Ballon d'Or.
Those who made the final three-man shortlist for the 2014 Ballon d'Or were Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, and Neuer.
Although De Bruyne supports Messi, he also feels that Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to win this year's Ballon d'Or.
It's also interesting to mention that this year should have been the best time for Messi to be crowned king.
As long as he led Argentina to defeat Germany in the World Cup final and took the world cup trophy.
Even if Cristiano Ronaldo helped Real Madrid win the tenth Champions League title in club history at the Estádio da Luz, it wouldn't have stopped him from being crowned king.
Unfortunately, neither Messi nor anyone else expected that the German genius Mark, who appeared out of nowhere, would use a shocking direct free kick to shatter his coronation ceremony.
As a result, Cristiano Ronaldo, who won the Champions League, became the biggest favorite for this year's Ballon d'Or..
Mid-sentence, De Bruyne suddenly changed the subject: "By the way, tomorrow is Christmas, do you have plans?"
"How do you know I have plans?"
Facing Mark's curious gaze, De Bruyne glanced back at his girlfriend in the kitchen and then whispered: "Michelle told me that Hisch asked you to go to the Christmas market tomorrow, but you refused... Hearing this, Mark raised an eyebrow and immediately understood: "So, Hisch asking me out was Michelle's idea?"
In fact, as early as two days ago, Keeley proposed coming to Germany to spend Christmas with Mark.
However, before he could agree, Hisch, on the other hand, took the initiative to send a message inviting him to the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt.
Same day, two women.
He finally faced a difficult choice!
Should he spend Christmas with Keeley or go to the Christmas market with Hisch?
After thinking it over, Mark felt he liked Keeley's curvy figure a bit more.
So, he politely declined Hisch's invitation.
He also knew very well that by rejecting Hisch and choosing Keeley, it meant that his fate with Hisch had come to an end.
Thinking of this, he felt a bit sorry for Michelle, who had introduced them.
So, when Michelle finished making a large table of dishes, he praised them excessively.
"Wow! What dish is this? It looks delicious!"
"Mmm, this dish smells so good!"
"Kevin, you're so lucky to have such good food?!"
Facing Mark's flattery, Michelle just smiled slightly.
Soon, the three of them were seated and began to enjoy a sumptuous Christmas Eve dinner.
As Belgians, the dinner started with an aperitif.
As the host, De Bruyne also raised his glass and offered a toast: "I wish you a Merry Christmas! May peace, love, and prosperity always follow you."
"Cheers!"
Clink!
Under the bright lights, the three glasses clinked together.
On the table, there was turkey, as well as main dishes like fried lamb chops and steamed sea bass; in addition, there were potato balls, a favorite side dish of Belgians.
And there was also a classic Belgian Christmas dessert, the Log cake!
This cake is famous for its unique chocolate sponge exterior and fresh cream filling, shaped like a delicate tree stump.
As a post-dinner dessert, Mark also ate a couple more bites.
You should know, he usually can't just eat such high-sugar desserts..
After enjoying a sumptuous Christmas Eve feast, Mark also took out the Christmas gifts he had prepared early for De Bruyne and Michelle.
For the former, it was a Hublot watch.
For the latter, it was a Gucci women's wallet.
And De Bruyne and Michelle together gave him an Armani tie as a return gift.
After exchanging Christmas gifts, Mark very sensibly took his leave.
Not long after, upon returning home, a very satisfied Mark plopped down on the sofa and took out his phone to start replying to messages from his coach, teammates, and industry friends one by one.
As his reputation rose in German football, he met more and more industry insiders and friends.
Since early morning, he had received many Christmas Eve greetings.
Just as Mark was replying one by one, he suddenly received a message from Keeley!
However, unlike other greeting messages, Keeley only sent him a photo:
Keeley was seen standing sideways in front of a mirror, holding her phone.
And her whole body was only wearing a lace nightgown and black silk stockings wrapping her beautiful legs.
In addition, she was wearing a pair of black high heels!
Sent along with the sexy selfie were provocative words: "My new nightie, does it look good?"
Seeing this photo, Mark immediately perked up: "It looks great!"
"Then I'll wear it for you tomorrow!"
It was precisely these words that made Mark unable to sleep through the long night..