World football's most entertaining league

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14 November 2008

“The world’s most exciting league” is a term often used to describe the English Premier League, but it now seems the legend has outlived the reality.

But before revealing the league that takes out the honour, we need to break down what it is that makes a domestic competition exciting. Most would agree that there are a number of key ingredients:

:: Attacking football
:: Big and enthusiastic crowds
:: A close title race
:: Great players

Based on these criteria, the German Bundesliga is the most entertaining league on the planet. Just take a look at these facts and you'll see why I've come to this conclusion.

Attacking football

The best and most objective way attacking football can be judged is by the amount of goals scored. The Bundesliga, with 3.05 goals per game, is not only ahead of the EPL but leads Europe too.

The Dutch Eredivisie closely follows with 3.01 goals per game - down from a Euro best 3.12 last season.

However, unlike the Dutch goal fest - thanks largely to blowout scores like Feyenoord's 5-0 thumping of Volendam and Ajax’s recent 5-2 win over Sparta Rotterdam - the German goal glut comes on the back of far closer, more exciting results - with four 3-3 draws already this campaign and Werder Bremen's pulsating 5-4 victory over Hoffenheim.

The EPL currently sits fourth in goals per game with 2.72, behind Spain’s Primera Liga (2.76) while Italy's more tactival Serie A averages 2.28 goals per game.

Big and enthusiastic crowds

England has long been known for its tremendous supporters who come in droves to watch their team, singing and chanting throughout the 90 minutes. But Germany is certainly not inferior in this department.

In fact, last season the Bundesliga had the highest attendances in world football, attracting an average of 39,426 people per game. In the EPL an average of 36,076 fans walked through the turnstiles.

Also in the Bundesliga's favour is the effervescent atmosphere on match day, demontrated by these Eintracht Frankfurt supporters.

What help's German fans express themselves so spectacularly are standing areas inside the grounds. The authorities also seem less restrictive than in other countries, and there's far less crowd trouble.

The other candidates for the 'excitement' title, Spain and Italy, attracted average crowds of 29,124 and 23,180 respectively for season 2007/08.

A close title race

In most Premier League seasons the title race has come down to the "big four" glamour clubs of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal and in recent years its almost been a two-horse race. However, the opposite is occuring in Germany's top flight.

Bavarian giants Bayern Munich, up until a few seasons ago barely troubled in the Bundesliga, have struggled to assert their dominance. With Bayern stuttering, this season is shaping up as one of the closest since Borussia Dortmund won the title in 2001/02.

After 12 rounds, just six points separates the top eight. Bayern are in the mix while Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburg, Hertha Berlin, Schalke, Felix Magath’s Wolfsburg and Köln are all in with a fighting chance of taking the crown.

Not to mention surprise packet Hoffenheim, who sit joint top.

By comparison, six points only separate 2nd and 3rd in the EPL, with the aforementioned usual four suspects occupying the top rungs.

Great players

This is the category where the Bundesliga falls behind the EPL. There isn’t much doubt these days that the world’s most talented players are being lured by the big cash on offer in England.

Spain and Italy also possess world class players but they are generally concentrated in a handful of rich clubs. Unlike England, where a side like Middlesborough can attract a player such as Brazilian striker Afonso Alves, who top scored in the Netherlands for Heerenveen in 2006/07 with 34 goals.

However, that doesn’t mean that talented players don’t exist in the Bundesliga. Bayern Munich has a magnificent squad that includes two of the world’s most dangerous strikers, Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose.

Yet it’s the creative talent that really lights up the German competition and Bayern has one of the best in sublimely gifted Frenchman Frank Ribery.

Meanwhile, Werder Bremen’s Brazilian wizard Diego is finally being recognised as one of the game's most influential playmakers.

There are also plenty of lesser-known players that have enthralled the German crowds this season, including 19-year-old whiz kid Marko Marin of newly promoted Borussia Monchengladbach. His mazy runs have tormented defences and delighted the fans.

Another relatively unknown but gifted midfielder is Borussia Dortmund’s Hungarian playmaker Tamas Hajnal. The 27-year-old has been in splendid form since he moved from Karlsruhe in the northern summer.

It shows that even though German clubs may not have the financial muscle of the English Premier League, it still has the type of players who get the fans' hearts racing.

Couple that with magnificent crowds, a close title race and the most attacking football in Europe and it seems that the Bundesliga now has the right to the title of "the world’s most exciting league”.