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On the final day of the European transfer window, Douglas Costa announced a return to former club Bayern Munich and with this being a player that South American expert Tim Vickery has waxed lyrical about in the past, this could be an important signing in the Bavarian’s bid for nine Bundesliga titles in a row.
A bid that has not quite gone to plan in the first four weeks of the new season and with them currently lying second in the table, they are not living up to the early season Bundesliga betting predictions.
After a shock defeat to Hoffenheim in the second week of the season, it was a result that not only took the shine off their European Super Cup win over Sevilla just days before, but also showed that this is a group of players who are at least human.
Because after winning the 2020 edition of the Champions League in August, the German giants were nothing short of relentless on their march to the final and although the showpiece event itself against PSG did not live up to expectations, Bayern were certainly worthy winners.
However, the defeat to Hoffenheim did suggest that Bayern may need an evolutionary tweak to their squad if they are to achieve in 2021 what they have for the eight years previous, a tweak that comes from the return of Douglas Costa.
Costa spent two previous season at the Allianz Arena between 2015 and 2017 and being a part of those title winning squads, the Brazilian would score 8 league goals after making 50 apearances.
That impressive form from out wide put him on the radar of Juventus and for the 2017/18 season, Costa would swap one perennial winner for another, as he moved to the then Juventus Stadium on loan.
A year later Juventus would make the move permanent and his time in Turin has seen him earn three Serie A championship medals, although the title pursuit has now switched back to Germany for the 2020/21 campaign.
The return of Costa would certainly have created headlines within the sports betting news community and even with Bayern only second in the table at the time of writing, it would take a very brave person to bet against them in the race for the title.
If is to be title number nine in a row, Bayern will have to make up ground on the team that is currently above them and with energy drink backed RB Leipzig picking up 10 points from the first 12 on offer, they currently find themselves a point clear at the top.
However, with one month down, there are still seven left to go and with Bayern adding to their attacking options, they must only be considered as the genuine favourites for more championship glory.
Costa will be charged with supplying the firepower for the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Serge Gnabry and if he can deliver on that remit, it is going to mean bad news for any Bundesliga defence that dares to tread in their way.
