ALEXIA PUTELLAS' BALLON D'OR

GOING UP

Christian Streich’s Freiburg have been one of the surprise packages of the first half of the 2021-22 Bundesliga after finishing 10th last season. Their form heading into the winter break put them inside the European qualification spots with the possibility of a Champions League push in 2022.

GOING DOWN

Greuther Furth’s return to the German top flight has been a disaster in the first half of the 2021-22 campaign with 13 losses and one draw from their first 14 games set to condemn them to an immediate return to the second tier in 2022.

TOP: Bayern´s Manuel Neuer reacts after the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Union Berlin and FC Bayern Munich

ABOVE: Dortmund's Marco Reus celebrates after scoring the 2-1 lead during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart

LEFT: Wolfsburg players celebrate

MAINZ WILL NOT SIGN ANY UNVACCINATED PLAYERS

FSV Mainz 05 head coach Christian Heidel says that his club will not sign any unvaccinated players in January. In addition to speaking on the club's remarkable turnaround last year and the frequent visits of German national team trainer Hans Dieter Flick to the club's ground, Heidel revealed himself to be a proponent of vaccine mandates.

THOMAS MULLER IS STILL PUTTING UP ASSISTS

Bayern Munich's Thomas Muller is the first player to assist 12 goals in the first half of a single Bundesliga season.