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Major Change To Bundesliga To Stop Bayern Munich Dominance Suggested

Major Change To Bundesliga To Stop Bayern Munich Dominance Suggested

Bayern have won the Bundesliga title nine times in-a-row and are already expected to bring up their 10th consecutive title this season.

Bayern Munich's recent domination of the Bundesliga has led to a former CEO of one of their rivals to call for a change in the league's format, to make it more interesting.

For the past nine years Bayern have been champions of Germany, and they've never truly been tested in that time, with the Munich side winning just five of the previous 10 titles before the current run.

This season might only be five games in but already everyone is expecting Julian Nagelsmann's team to lift the trophy at the end of the season, with last weekend's 7-0 win over Bochum not exactly helping that way of thinking.

That feeling, along with the dominance Bayern already had, could lead to lots of fans becoming bored of the German top tier, and former Bayer Leverkusen Wolfgang Holzhauser chief thinks the only way to change things is introduce title play-offs.

"I would rather call it a knockout round," Holzhauser said of his idea in an interview via Spox.

"The first four teams in the table would play a semi-final against each other after the regular Bundesliga season.

"The first plays against the fourth and the second against the third. The respective winners then contest a final, while the losers play out third or fourth place.

"Against the backdrop of the Champions League places, such a format would be an absolute highlight for the fans."

Bayern lifting their ninth league trophy in nine years. Image: PA Images
Bayern lifting their ninth league trophy in nine years. Image: PA Images

Bayern's latest win, which saw them go top of the table, above Wolfsburg on goal difference, had fans calling for them to be given the title already.

Holzhauser says that this can't be allowed to be the case, "It cannot be in the minds of the followers that the champion is already determined in October," he added.

"You can't solve the problem financially, but you can do it in a sporty way. Still, it would have a financial advantage."

Whilst play-offs could still obviously be dominated by Bayern, it would at least give their rivals a chance to stop them in a one off match, either in the semis or finals.

Bayern have already beaten potential title rivals RB Leipzig 4-1 away this season, after Leipzig lost their manager, best defender and captain to Bayern in the summer. Image: PA Images
Bayern have already beaten potential title rivals RB Leipzig 4-1 away this season, after Leipzig lost their manager, best defender and captain to Bayern in the summer. Image: PA Images

Play-offs to decide titles aren't popular in European leagues, although they do feature to decide promotion and relegation in some leagues, but they have been used in the MLS.

Other sports in Europe have used the format, with both the Aviva Premiership and Super League, in rugby union and league respectively, using them to decent success over many years.

Holzhauser, who was in charge at Leverkusen from 2004 to 2014, said the change in format could financially help all the teams, even those outside the top four, "This would result in greater marketing opportunities, the proceeds of which could be distributed to the teams that do not take part in these knockout games. 

"So everyone benefits from it."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football, Bundesliga, Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen