Football's 5 biggest shocks in 2016
Football, on most days, is a predictable game. But sometimes, it gives you moments that leave you wondering “How on Earth did that happen?” And 2016 was a year full of such shocks. From huge individual upsets to stories of underdogs going all the way, 2016 left us wide-eyed and awestruck more often than not. The only things that stayed consistent to predictability were Arsenal finishing over Tottenham, and Arsenal drawing Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
As odds were defied and gasps were drawn, we look at some of the biggest shocks of 2016.
#5 The rise of RB Leipzig
Over the last few years, the outcome of the German Bundesliga had become fairly predictable. Bayern Munich ran out winners in all of the last four editions of the league, and rather comfortably more often than not. Teams like Borussia Dortmund also contested for it, but never really troubled the Bavarian giants.
But this year saw newly promoted RB Leipzig rise as a potential title challenger, having even led the league table for a few weeks. They now sit level on points with Bayern Munich, behind only on goal difference.
Leipzig’s story has been an interesting one, as the much-derided club rose from the lower ranks of German football in rapid ascension and now look to establish themselves as a mainstay in the top flight of Germany. Formed only in 2009, it took the team only seven years to climb through 4 tiers. The club has invited much criticism and now possess the dubious moniker of the most hated team in Germany.
In a country where clubs are supposed to give controlling rights to fans, Leipzig, owned by Red Bull, have flouted these rules as they have only 17 members with voting rights. This has led to fans all across Germany seeing them as standing against German football culture. Most Germans see them less like a football club and more as a marketing gimmick for Red Bull.
But RB Leipzig themselves will not care much, as they have already accumulated ten wins and stand to be major title contenders. They have picked up impressive wins over Dortmund, Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen in the process, and will travel to Munich to face the mighty Bayern in their last match before the winter break. With players like Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Timo Werner and Davie Selke, they are a formidable side and can claim a major underdog victory come the end of the season.