Derdiyok answering the call

Bayern took it's place on the top of the table after leaving Werder with no chances. At the same time Mönchengladbach and Dortmund dealt the points, although Dortmund had plenty of chances to score the decisive goal and take home the points. Schalke was able to squeeze a victory against Augsburg like expected, although Schalkes game left a lot to hope for. That's the five first Bundesliga teams at the moment. On the sixth place, still not given up on the championship race, are Leverkusen only six points behind the leading Bayern. Before the season they were quite high on the champion rankings. It's not lookingsuper for them but they're still on an attacking position.

After last season the coach changed. Heynckes for Dutt. I must say that last years team seemed more powerful, but is it the coach that made teh difference to the team. Dutt showed that he doesnt lack courage when keeping Ballack on the bench for the first matches and made him prove that he deserves a place in the starting eleven. After rising to the starting eleven he's been decent, but not the same Ballack all germans can remember him of. When I look at Leverkusens game, I must say that the whole team does just enough. No more. They have been lacking the joy to play, although they have won seven games. It seems though that their game is improving.

The problem has been the scoring. Kiessling has been criticized for not being able to score. He has responded that a striker can do a lot more than score, but I must say that only three goals in fifteen games is quite few for a striker. Kiessling seems to be Dutts first choice, or at least has been. Now it might change. After the Chelsea game Eren Derdiyok has been playing on a great level. He is a little different kind of player than Kiessling, more straightforward and certainly much more quick. And now when he is self-confident he has been shooting more and most importantly shooting effectively.

After the Chelsea game Derdiyok has scored four goals in two games. That gives a total of five in the last three games. He might be the answer for Leverkusens scoring problem, and he will certainly be the number one striker in the coaches book for the next games.

It is left to be seen if Leverkusen can maintain the form they're having at the moment. They are surely eager to go far in the Champions League, but can they concentrate on both Champions League and Bundesliga. If they want to keep on winning, someone else has to contribute to the goal scoring with Derdiyok. Sidney Sam has been showing the stuff he wasable to do last seasonin the past games. With Sam, Derdiyok, Kiessling and Schürrle they have a good attack, and with ballack contributing thay can go a long way. And we shouldn't forget Leno who has been improving all the time, and already proved himself as the top keepers of the Bundesliga this season. As Leverkusen is finding their top form the christmas break might come uninvited. But they still have two important games before that. Especially next weekends fixture against Hannover 96 will be a tough one.