Championship of the Bundesliga at stake following Bayern's turbulent summer season
Bayern Munich, the reigning champions of the Bundesliga, are gearing up for a competitive season as they aim to reclaim the title for the 13th time in 14 years. However, the Bavarian giants face stiff competition from Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, and Eintracht Frankfurt, who are all eager to dethrone the champions.
Bayer Leverkusen
Despite a significant squad overhaul that saw the departure of key players like Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Granit Xhaka, Lukas Hradecky, and Jonathan Tah, Leverkusen remains Bayern's primary rival. According to a forecast by the Opta supercomputer, Leverkusen has approximately a 16.9% chance of championship success. However, the departure of head coach Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid and the rebuilding process may impact their immediate competitiveness and team cohesion early in the season.
Borussia Dortmund
Finished in the top four last season, Dortmund is among the top three favorites to win the league. Under the leadership of manager Niko Kovac, a former Bundesliga winning coach, Dortmund aims to challenge Bayern seriously. With a 15.8% chance of winning the league, Dortmund's squad and coaching staff seem stable, and all Bundesliga head coaches have tipped Bayern as champions but acknowledge Dortmund as a key challenger.
Eintracht Frankfurt
Finishing third in the previous season, Frankfurt is still rebuilding after selling star striker Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool. Nonetheless, they have emerging talents like Jonathan Burkardt to watch. Frankfurt is considered the closest challenger after Dortmund and Leverkusen but still "light years" behind Bayern in squad strength. Their odds of challenging for the title are lower, but they remain in the running for Champions League spots.
Bayern Munich themselves had a positive transfer window overall, securing the signing of attacker Luis Diaz from Liverpool, but losing Mathys Tel to Tottenham Hotspur on a permanent deal. Despite these changes, all experts and coaches anticipate Bayern to reclaim the Bundesliga title yet again.
The Race for the Title
The 2025-26 Bundesliga season promises to be an exciting one, with Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, and Eintracht Frankfurt leading the charge. Other Bundesliga clubs like Stuttgart and RB Leipzig have lower chances this season due to squad and coaching transitions.
On the eve of the new season, Bayern Munich will face Stuttgart in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, the season opener in German football. The match is set to be a crucial indicator of Bayern's form and readiness for the upcoming season.
References:
[1] Bundesliga.com [2] ESPN.co.uk [3] Sky Sports [4] Goal.com [5] BBC.co.uk
- Bayer Leverkusen, despite losing key players and the departure of head coach Xabi Alonso, remains a formidable opponent for Bayern Munich in the upcoming European-leagues season, with a forecasted 16.9% chance of championship success, according to the Opta supercomputer.
- Borussia Dortmund, with their stable squad and coaching staff led by manager Niko Kovac, a former Bundesliga winning coach, is positioned as one of the top three favorites to challenge Bayern Munich for the Premier-League title, as acknowledged by all Bundesliga head coaches.
