When it comes to the top flight of German football, no one has been able to lay a glove on Bayern Munich in recent years.
The soccer powerhouse has won seven consecutive titles and has boasted a team brimming with seemingly endless and unrivaled talent.
However, the tide could be changing this season with just three points currently splitting the top four teams in the league.
Second-placed RB Leipzig has the chance to go top when they visit Bayern Munich on Sunday and US star Tyler Adams is “stoked” to take on the challenge of trying to dethrone the Bundesliga champion.
“Obviously it’s a big opportunity not just for myself but for the team to not only re-establish ourselves as one of the best teams in the league but show that we are here to win the league this year,” the 20-year-old Adams, who moved to Leipzig from New York Red Bulls in January 2019, told CNN Sport’s Alex Thomas.
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Pulisic role model
Adams is one of a host of young players who have chosen to develop their careers in the German Bundesliga and he is determined to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Christian Pulisic.
The now Chelsea forward kickstarted his career in Germany having played for Borussia Dortmund as a teenager.
“I didn’t necessarily pick his brains about it but I looked up to him in a sense,” said Adams of the 21-year-old Pulisic, who is very much a role model for other Americans wanting to make their name in European football.
“For me watching him on TV and seeing what he was able to do it was more like ‘Why can’t I do that?’
“He did give you the confidence that you can be an American player fitting and living comfortably into the Bundesliga lifestyle.”
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Pressure of the big stage
Born in Wappingers Falls, New York, Adams has made 10 appearances for the US national team after initially impressing in Major League Soccer (MLS).
However, he is acutely aware that playing in Europe is an entirely different level.
RB Leipzig, in its current form, was founded just 10 years ago after Red Bull’s billionaire founder took over German fifth division side SSV Markranstadt.
After climbing through the leagues, Leipzig finished as runners-up in 2017.
The Bundesliga club has also qualified for this season’s Champions League’s knockout stages and faces Tottenham in the round of 16 on February 19.
“You come into a team with players in the team that are world class,” he said. “They all play in their respective national teams and coming from New York not everyone had that level of experience.”
“Being in such a world-class club and watching how everyone carries themselves and the level of expectation here, there is obviously a little bit of pressure that comes with it but it’s something that I’m able to grasp and I’m really excited to be part of such a big club.”
‘Re-establish ourselves’
Adams made an incredible start to life in Germany – the American was unbeaten in his first nine league games – before injuries reduced his playing time on the pitch.
Fit again now, he wants to help Leipzig recover its form after three games without a win but does not believe Sunday’s match against Bayern Munich is a title decider.
“We have a lot to prove,” he said. “After a few tricky matches in the past couple of weeks, we are ready to re-establish ourselves as one of the best teams.”
“The season is long and you have to take it game by game. There are a lot of tough games coming up as well so we need to focus.”
CNN’s Joshua Pedro contributed to this report.
