What Bundesliga Team Should You Follow When Action Soon Returns?

The Bundesliga is set to return in May, meaning the German top-flight will be the first major league in football to return to action. The DFL (the German Football League) have announced plans to return within this month, taking specific measures to work around the current climate, such as playing each match behind closed doors.

Clubs have returned to training over in Germany and it seems football fans globally are set to adopt a Bundesliga outfit as a result. But, who should you choose?

Do you fancy the yearly table-toppers Bayern Munich? Or do you like the look of Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig's chances in the title race? Perhaps you back SC Paderborn in their attempt at a great escape or give Bundesliga regulars, Werder Bremen, a chance at surviving their shocking season.

As usual, the Champions League spots are heating up, whilst there is mayhem down at the bottom. Let's take a look at who you could follow this Bundesliga return.

Are you a glory hunter, perhaps? Or maybe just have a soft spot for the German giants?

Bayern Munich run away with the league almost every year. Over recent times, the rise of Leipzig has added a new contender to the mix, but ultimately, this has only delayed the party in Munich by just a few weeks.

Currently, after a strong start from Dortmund and Leipzig, Bayern have regained the throne at the top of the Bundesliga, recovering from their shaky start. The Reds are currently four points clear of BVB and look set to claim a record 29th title in the top-flight.

There are still nine games left and it is important to remember that only two points separated Dortmund and Bayern last season. But, this year, perhaps number 29 is imminent and Bayern are once again the heavy favourites to win the title.

Should the league return in May, however, Bundesliga top scorer, Robert Lewandowksi, may not be fit in time, after injuring himself in the win over Chelsea. So, go figure.

Outside of Germany, Dortmund seem to be one of the teams that many neutral fans lean towards.

Back in the early years of the last decade, Dortmund were led by Jurgen Klopp and his army of young German stars which captured admirers from all over the globe. Klopp was making a name for himself as one of Europe's elite, winning back-to-back Bundesliga titles and making it to a Champions League final in 2013.

The likes of Marco Reus, Ilkay Gundogan and Mario Gotze formed one of the most threatening teams in Europe back then, and made the famous Yellow Wall a poetic sight to behold.

Dortmund just seem to do it right when it comes to the fans and football. The Signal Iduna Park is breathtaking and the atmosphere is electric each week and you may not find a better seat at any ground in the world. The players are some of the world's best and brightest, whilst every year seems to bring beautiful attacking football.

There is, of course, the desire to follow arguably Europe's best striker at the moment each week in Erling Haaland, as well as the devastating Englishman, Jadon Sancho. We expect Dortmund's following to go up a lot when the Bundesliga returns, and with good reason - they are a majestic club which many should admire.

ICYMI: Read how RB Leipzig are the underdogs in Germany and Europe we should all be worried about.

Whilst Dortmund are one of the most loveable outfits outside of Germany, inside the country, Leipzig are arguably the most hated. RBL were only formed in 2009, purchasing the playing rights to SSV Markranstädt in the fifth-tier of German football.

Naturally, this angered fans around the country where football rules and morals have not changed since the 60s. And, as Leipzig have gone from the fifth-tier to Bundesliga runners-up in just eight years, they've become very much the most hated club in the country.

This shouldn't, however, force you to look past their fantastic rise and current standing. The club are third in the Bundesliga, one point behind Dortmund and five off leaders Bayern. At the same time, Timo Werner and co. dismantled Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 and set themselves as real contenders for the Champions League this season, as well.

Plus, after all, if you're merely a fan of attacking football and a team on the rise, Leipzig is for you. They might not be liked inside Germany, but they are a delight to watch, and the likes of Werner
Dayot Upamecano and Yussuf Poulsen are desired by clubs around Europe for a reason.

ICYMI: Read how RB Leipzig are the underdogs in Germany and Europe we should all be worried about.

Similar to the Premier League, the race for the Champions League spots in Germany is always close. Yes, Bayern have all but turned the Bundesliga into a one-team league, but from second to sixth, not much ever separates one team from another.

Last season, there were only nine points that distanced fourth-place Bayer Leverkusen to ninth place 1899 Hoffenheim. In between this, clubs fifth to eighth were separated by only two points.

This year has taken a similar route, with the places for Europa League heating up, in particular. After 25 games thus far, Borussia Monchengladbach occupies the fourth and final spot in the Champions League for next season, after dropping out of the title race around February time.

Monchengladbach have played tremendous football this season and certainly are worth adopting, with the likes of Lars Stindl and Breel Embolo catching the eye each week. It did look like the Foals would be in for a title race this year, beating Bayern 2-1 back in December to remain top of the Bundesliga. But, after loosening their grip week by week ever since, Leverkusen are now right behind them in fifth, just two points adrift.

Leverkusen have also been a pleasure to watch this campaign, once again putting themselves within a Champions League fight. Plus, the BayArena is a stunning ground and the famous black and red is as striking as a kit could come.

The likes of Kevin Volland and Lucas Alario have been magnificent to watch thus far, whilst Kai Havertz has established himself as one of the brightest young playmakers in European football. Havertz is wanted by the likes of Liverpool this summer and Leverkusen are worth adopting just because of this man.

Come to the end of the season, both Leverkusen and Monchengladbach should be the teams in the European spots, either way. But, this still potentially leaves the spot open in sixth for a Europa League place.

Last season, Bayern claimed the DFB-Pokal, which forced the VFL Wolfsburg into the Europa League, due to Bayern's league position allowing them into the Champions League. Once again, Bayern are in the semi-finals for the DFB-Pokal, meeting Eintracht Frankfurt once action returns. Naturally, the Bavarians will be the favourites now to claim the trophy and force sixth-place back into the Europa League.

With this said, there are a handful of teams you could follow in this tense battle. There are only seven points that separate Schalke 04 in sixth and Union Berlin down in 11th. Furthermore, Schalke's lead is only by a mere point over Wolfsburg and Freiburg, with Hoffenheim right on their trail as well.

Similarly to the Premier League where we have Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sheffield United, Manchester United, Arsenal and Spurs battling for Europe, here in the Bundesliga, things are very much the same. So, perhaps you could adopt the club in similar standings - if you're a United fan, why not adopt Leverkusen? If you follow the Blades, perhaps Schalke is your new team.

Take your pick on who to follow, but the likes of Union Berlin have captured the imagination of German fans as well in their fabulous rise, whilst elite outfits like Schalke and Wolfsburg are always intriguing to follow.

Sticking with the similarities in the Premier League and the Bundesliga, the relegation battle is quite the same. Whilst England's top-flight sees newly promoted Norwich City doomed, the Bundesliga is witnessing newbies SC Paderborn putting one foot in Bundesliga 2 already.

Paderborn are on just 16 points and won just four games in their debut season in the top-flight, meaning they are 10 clear from safety, which has all but cemented their fate with just nine games to go. If you fancy getting yourself involved in a great escape, however, devote yourself to Paderborn!

At the same time, Mainz have a safe four-point gap over Fortuna Dusseldorf in 15th, which is looking like leaving Dusseldorf in the Bundesliga 2 for next year. Any Aston Villa fans missing their relegation scrap? This one is for you.

The Bundesliga has been shocked by the horrendous season from Werder Bremen this campaign. After finishing most seasons inside the top half - some even closer to Europe - Bremen are all but set for relegation.

To put this in perspective, it's similar to Everton getting relegated. Like the Toffees, Bremen are regulars in their respective top-flight and have been in the first division ever since the foundation of the Bundesliga in 1963, bar one relegated season in 1982.

It's arguably the story of the season so far, but the Green-Whites are eight from safety with just nine games left. If you love a relegation battle and a massive club, this team is for you!