The Bundesliga never slows down. Late equalisers, chaotic top clashes and standout goalkeepers defined another intense month in Germany’s top league. Here is how the balance of power looks right now – from champions to strugglers.
Power Rankings is Ola Selbys monthly take on which teams are truly in form. It’s not about the league table, but about how the teams have performed during the past month.
Here are the Bundesliga Power Rankings for December!
1: SC Magdeburg
Current Bundesliga standing: 1
Power rankings November: 1
Magdeburg are still the benchmark, even if the month wasn’t flawless. Strong wins against Göppingen and Eisenach showed their ceiling, with Claar, Magnusson and Kristjansson carrying much of the offensive load.
The draw against Kiel felt like a missed opportunity, conceding an equaliser with three seconds left, and the narrow win in Gummersbach came with a bit of late luck. Still, the overall impression is stability, depth and an ability to win even when not at their absolute best.
2: TBV Lemgo
Current Bundesliga standing: 3
Power rankings November: 4
Lemgo might be the most impressive team of the month relative to expectations. They keep finding ways to win tight games, whether through penalties late on, last-second equalisers or collective defensive efforts. Zehnder, Versteijnen and Möstl have all stepped up, and Lemgo’s consistency against top opposition justifies a top-four ranking.
3: SG Flensburg-Handewitt
Current Bundesliga standing: 2
Power rankings November: 3
Photo: Matilda Ahlberg/ BILDBYRÅN
Flensburg’s month was chaotic but productive. High-scoring games, dramatic finishes and heavy reliance on Pytlick defined their run. Wins against Berlin and Göppingen showed character, while the loss in Lemgo highlighted late-game issues. Buric’s form in goal has been crucial, and when the attack spreads as it did against Bergischer, Flensburg look like a title contender again.
4: Füchse Berlin
Current Bundesliga standing: 4
Power rankings November: 2
Berlin remain one of the league’s most explosive teams offensively. Gidsel continues to deliver almost every night, supported well by Langhoff and Lichtlein, while Milosavljev has had several strong performances in goal. The defensive chaos in Flensburg raises questions, but when Berlin click, like against Minden or Göppingen in the second half, they look nearly unstoppable.
5: THW Kiel
Current Bundesliga standing: 5
Power rankings November: 5
Photo: Petter Arvidson / BILDBYRÅN
Kiel are hard to place higher at the moment. Wolff has been outstanding in goal, often keeping them alive, but the overall performances have lacked sharpness. Draws against Lemgo, Hannover and Magdeburg feel like missed chances, and even wins have been unconvincing. Injuries and instability show, and Kiel are still searching for rhythm.
6: Rhein-Neckar Löwen
Current Bundesliga standing: 7
Power rankings November: 10
Löwen are climbing steadily. Haukur Þrastarson and Jannik Kohlbacher have been a devastating duo. Five wins in a row tell the story, and the offensive confidence is growing. Defensively there are still question marks, but the trend is clearly upward.
7: MT Melsungen
Current Bundesliga standing: 8
Power rankings November: 7
Photo: Käsler/MT
Melsungen remain solid without ever fully convincing. They are competitive against top teams, rely on strong goalkeeping from Palasics, and often win through collective effort rather than individual brilliance. The draw in Erlangen hurt slightly, but overall this was a stable month for a team that knows its identity.
8: VfL Gummersbach
Current Bundesliga standing: 6
Power rankings November: 6
Gummersbach had flashes of their best level but also moments of frustration. The narrow loss against Magdeburg summed up the month: strong performance, no reward. Kuzmanovic has been excellent in goal, Köster dominant defensively, but dropped points – especially the draw against Bergischer – prevent them from climbing higher.
9: TSV Hannover-Burgdorf
Current Bundesliga standing: 9
Power rankings November: 12
Hannover are competitive but struggle to close games. Pedersen has carried much of the offensive responsibility, and the draw in Kiel was a highlight. However, conceding late equalisers and failing to push through against top sides keeps them in the middle of the pack.
10: Bergischer HC
Current Bundesliga standing: 15
Power rankings November: 8
Bergischer continue to punch above their weight. Rudeck has been outstanding, and the team repeatedly stays competitive against stronger opponents. However, conceding too many early goals – as against Flensburg – makes winning those games nearly impossible. Still, the overall impression remains positive.
11: HC Erlangen
Current Bundesliga standing: 12
Power rankings November: 13
Photo: Michael Erichsen / BILDBYRÅN
Erlangen show signs of improvement, especially offensively through Runarsson and Kristjansson. The draw against Melsungen and competitive loss in Kiel are encouraging, but defensive stability remains an issue. Close games often slip away late.
12: Hamburg Handball
Current Bundesliga standing: 10
Power rankings November: 11
Hamburg’s month was uneven. Strong home wins contrast sharply with heavy defeats against top teams. El-Tayar has had good nights, but consistency is missing, especially defensively. They rarely look close against the elite, which limits their ceiling for now.
13: Frisch auf Göppingen
Current Bundesliga standing: 11
Power rankings November: 9
Results don’t look good, but context matters. Facing Magdeburg, Lemgo, Flensburg and Berlin in one stretch is brutal. The narrow loss against Flensburg showed fight, while the second-half collapse in Berlin exposed their limits. Form is weak, but performances aren’t entirely without promise.
14: TVB Stuttgart
Current Bundesliga standing: 14
Power rankings November: 15
Photo: Petter Arvidson / BILDBYRÅN
Stuttgart fight hard but lack depth. Häfner continues to deliver elite-level performances, yet he is too often alone. The wins against Wetzlar and Leipzig were important, but heavy losses against stronger teams show the gap that still exists.
15: ThSV Eisenach
Current Bundesliga standing: 13
Power rankings November: 14
Eisenach struggle to maintain intensity for 60 minutes. They start games well but fade badly in second halves, as seen against Wetzlar and Magdeburg. Joelsson carries much of the offensive burden, but support is limited.
16: GWD Minden
Current Bundesliga standing: 16
Power rankings November: 17
Minden finally picked up crucial points against Erlangen and Hannover, largely thanks to Semisch in goal. However, heavy losses against Berlin and Hamburg underline their problems. Survival will depend on turning close games into wins more often.
17: HSG Wetzlar
Current Bundesliga standing: 17
Power rankings November: 16
Wetzlar had one strong second half against Eisenach, but otherwise the month was difficult. Defensive issues and inconsistent goalkeeping hurt them badly against top opposition. Mappes and Zacharias deliver offensively, but the overall structure is fragile.
18: SC DHFK Leipzig
Current Bundesliga standing: 18
Power rankings November: 18
Despite some promising performances, Leipzig remain at the bottom. The collapse against Stuttgart hurt badly, while the win against Hamburg showed what they can be capable of. Effort is there, but consistency and mental toughness are still missing.