Patrick Berger, an apprentice gardener, was chanting as he walked past the timber-framed houses in the village of Hoffenheim, south-western Germany, on a sunny day last week. “Ibi, Obasi, Ba,” he was singing.

These six syllables stand for Vedad Ibisevic, Chinedu Obasi and Demba Ba, the star forwards of Hoffenheim football club, the Bundesliga newcomer that is top of the league and has Germany rapt.