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League leaders Borussia Dortmund go into the four-week winter
break with a record 10 point cushion and few believe they will loosen their tight
grip on the Bundesliga championship in the second part of the season.

Dortmund, as opposed to Hoffenheim two years ago or Bayer
Leverkusen last season, who both saw their winter break advantages evaporate,
have several things working in their favour.

With experienced captain Sebastian Kehl, Patrick Owomoyela,
Mohamed Zidan and Dede set to return for the new year, Juergen Klopp’s young
team, whose outfield players regularly have an average age of under 24, will
benefit from the injection of experience at just the right time.

Dortmund, who have lost only twice in the league this season and
lead with 43 points from 17 games, having won 14 of them, also have no other
obligations than the Bundesliga.

Mainz 05 are second on 33 points, level with Leverkusen, while
defending champions Bayern Munich are four points behind.

Dortmund’s early exits from the German Cup and the Europa League
may turn out to be a blessing in disguise for a team who are bidding for their
first domestic league title since 2002 and are not used to the demands of
multiple competitions.

“From the beginning of January we will start preparations for
the second part,” said club manager Michael Zorc.

“After all we only have the Bundesliga left now and I hope we
can pick up where we left off because in most games we played some sensational
football.” With the league’s best attack and defence, Dortmund have set a very
high standard for their title rivals.

Germany call-ups

Their impressive form also led to Germany coach Joachim Loew
selecting youngsters Marcel Schmelzer and Mario Goetze and recalling midfielder
Kevin Grosskreutz and defender Mats Hummels for the national side in November.

“I dare make the prognosis that it will be extremely difficult
to overtake Dortmund in the second half. Teams like Leverkusen or Bayern must
start a good run to do that,” Loew told reporters this week.

While Leverkusen traditionally falter in the second half of the
season, Bayern will only become stronger.

The return of Dutch winger Arjen Robben and Germany’s Holger Badstuber
from injury will strengthen their attack and defence and they are determined to
boost their backline further in the winter transfer window.

Bayern, on the advice of coach Louis van Gaal, did not buy
anyone in the close-season and paid the price for sticking with erratic central
defenders Martin Demichelis and Daniel van Buyten.

But even Van Gaal, whose team came from behind in the winter to
clinch the title last season, considers a Champions League spot a more
realistic target than winning the Bundesliga with Dortmund 14 points ahead.

“Obviously Dortmund are a target but for us the focus will first
be on Mainz 05 and Leverkusen, who are only four points away and on the
Champions League spots,” he said on Wednesday after his team advanced into the
German Cup quarter-finals.

The Bavarians face holders Inter Milan in the Champions League
first knockout round, further crowding their match schedule.

At the other end of the table, Borussia Moenchengladbach look
doomed in last place on just 10 points, having conceded 47 goals and
relegation-threatened VfB Stuttgart, two points ahead of them, showing signs of
recovery.

With Gladbach coach Michael’s Frontzeck’s future in doubt, the
five-time German champions have little room for mistakes.

“Everyone has written us off already and that is fine by us but
there is a whole half of a season still to be played and we will not give up
until the very last game,” Frontzeck said.