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Germany's Bundesliga is recognised as the highest scoring competition in Europe, and if you have ever watched a standard season match you will understand why. It's not unusual for the audience to be privy to matches with a scoreline of 6-3; but despite their free scoring abilities, the talent on show in the Bundesliga is second to none.

The Bundesliga is one of the youngest competitions in Europe, having only been around since the early 1960s. The league is currently ranked third in UEFA's coefficient ranking system, but boasts the highest average attendance numbers at association football matches in the world, and was only beaten in 2009-10 by the Indian Premier League and NFL.

Thanks to its comparatively young competition structure, the Bundesliga has undergone many changes in the past few decades. However, its format nowadays is very similar to that of other top European leagues. Eighteen clubs take part in the Bundesliga every season, with the three worst performing clubs relegated to the second tier of the Bundesliga while the top three from that competition earn their place at the height of professional German football.

Another positive to come from the maturing league is that only one club has been able to establish itself as a consistent contender for the Bundesliga title - rather than there being a gulf in class between two or three teams and the rest of the league. Bayern Munich are known throughout the world as the biggest German outfit, but apart from the Bavarians there are no other clubs that have dominated the domestic league. Bayern began their supremacy of the Bundesliga in the late 60s, and have since gone on to win 21 championships. Eleven other teams have all claimed the title, though none have been able to reach the same heights as Munich; Borussia Monchengladbach have the next highest tally of victories, with five.

As you would expect from such a highly ranked UEFA domestic league, the German Bundesliga is home to several stars of world football. Franck Ribery, Raul Gonzalez, and Ruud van Nistelrooy are all fighting for a place amongst the German football elite this season, although past stars of the game include Gerd Muller, Oliver Kahn, and Franz Beckenbauer.

The best teams at the end of every season are awarded spots in the Champions League and Europa League, dependant on standings, and several German clubs have had successful stints in the cup tournaments. Most recently, Bayern Munich reached the final of the 2009-10 Champions League, before being defeated by Serie A outfit Inter Milan.

You can find out more about other European leagues, such as the English Premier League and Spanish La Liga by clicking on the appropriate links.