Seasonal forecast
Bayern have construction sites in the squad – everyone agrees. But they are also the high favorite for the championship.
When the Bundesliga starts the new season on Friday (August 22nd, Bavaria against Leipzig from 8:30 p.m. here live in the radio stream), the search for the big competitor for the defending champion is difficult because the typical candidates had to springs, are in transition, or (supposedly) step on the spot. In addition to the Munich team itself, real championship ambitions have not so far publicly expressed a single club.
Bayer Leverkusen – gutted team, many question marks
It makes sense to consult the previous year’s table if you want to name the title favorites for the upcoming Bundesliga season. Common AI programs also use these, admittedly, little imaginative approach. And that this is not only a little imaginative, but also purely problematic in terms of content, shows the fact that the second table Bayer Leverkusen will probably not be the big Bayern challenger in 2025/26.
In the past season, the Leverkuseners were at the end of 13 points behind Bavaria. And that was before the Werkelf had lost its top players Florian Wirtz, her wing racer Jeremie Frimpong, her defense chief Jonathan Tah, her captain Granit Xhaka, her longtime goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky and her trainer and master maker Xabi Alonso. And even if the Leverkuseners have signed a trainer with Erik Ten HAG who has become Dutch champion several times and, with all criticism of his term of office there, gave the last two titles there, and Bayer spent over 100 million euros on the transfer market, you have to hold on: This team was gutted, stuck up, turned it upside down.
In the course of a good season, Bayer with the young newcomers Jarell Quansah, Malik Tillman, Ibrahim Maza, Ernest Poku or Christian Kofane, no one of whom is older than 23 years old, is also possible. There is also a not completely crazy scenario in which the talented team will develop so far in two years that they can seriously challenge Munich.
Conclusion: The 13-point gap to Bavaria has nevertheless tended to grown in view of the enormous bloodletting. The season preparation at Bayer Holprig and in the cup it took two refer to the opponent against a regional league team before the Leverkuseners became really dominant. International business is possible, more seasoned top players are needed in the squad.
Borussia Dortmund – Constance with Kovac, but hardly any reinforcements
There can be no question of a large bloodletting at Borussia Dortmund. On the contrary, BVB, the top performers of the squad, with whom Niko Kovac remained undefeated in the past second half of the season and only failed at Real Madrid at the club World Cup, kept everyone together. The departure of Jamie Gitten, who also brought in over 50 million euros, does not really hurt at least now, under Kovac the young Englishman no longer played a real role on the grand piano.
The previously borrowed Daniel Svensson, on the Kovac, holds big pieces, and full -back Yan Couto, who has not yet really found his role, were firmly committed in summer. In addition, there is the young Jobe Bellingham, who is supposed to play a major role in the central midfield and will bring a lot of physique into the Dortmund game. Something that Kovac definitely likes.
But there is also a yawning emptiness on the access page. Although the Dortmund under Kovac, after the desolate Hin series under Nuri Sahin, took fourth place, but to the conclusion that this squad only needs reinforcements to be dangerous in the title race, you will hardly have come on Borsigplatz. At least that is to be hoped from a BVB perspective: Nico Schlotterbeck and Niklas Süle initially fail in the defense center, Emre Can is also struck, and the offensive still lacks depth and dribbling quality in almost all positions.
Conclusion: Dortmund should not fall into such a deep hole again as under Sahin, the team under Kovac looks too stable for that, the trainer himself is simply too clear in his game idea and communication, but for a large throw towards the top of the table (quickly) a lot in the squad are still in the squad, even if there are only a breath of ambitions to endanger Bavaria.
Eintracht Frankfurt – strong development, but big footsteps in the storm
As well as last season, Eintracht Frankfurt recently performed in the Bundesliga in 1993. Third place was a complete success for the eleven of Dino Toppmöller. And that succeeded, although Omar Marmoush moved to Manchester in winter. This summer, his congenial storm partner Hugo Ekikte left Eintracht towards Premier League and is now playing for Liverpool FC. Otherwise, the Frankfurters were able to keep their contingent together, but newcomers Ritsu Doan from SC Freiburg indicated in the cup that he can offer the Hessian offensive an invigorating element.
But this could also be urgently needed, because in the forefront the quality that has been lost in Marmoush and Ektiten is of course hardly replaced for a club like Frankfurt, although there was 170 million euros for the two. Jonathan Burkardt is a start, the international came from Mainz and is likely to be at the forefront. The Elye Wahi, who was obliged in winter, must now finally confirm the hopes that have already been set in his career several times, especially since Burkardt has always been injured for longer in the last three seasons. Otherwise, the line -up in the storm center with a triple burden could become a problem this season.
Conclusion: Eintracht is clearly again a candidate for the Champions League, but for the still pretty young squad, a real attack on Munich in view of the loss of the two top strikers seems hardly realistic.
VfB Stuttgart – The indomitable Swabians as “Dark Horse”?
VfB Stuttgart was “only” ninth in the pre-season, but as a cup winner, as a cup winner, as a tough negotiating partner in the poker and Nick Woltemade and as a very demanding, albeit subordinate, opponent in the just played Supercup final, have already shown that they do not want to make themselves small compared to FC Bayern.
Enzo Millot’s departure is painful, but Stand now the offensive man is the only regular player to replace Sebastian Hoeneß. However, the offensive still has a lot of variability with Deniz Undav and Woltemade Hoeneß has two players in the squad, both in the storm, but also various positions behind it. The team is also extremely recorded. Only Frank Schmidt has been in office as Hoeneß in the Bundesliga (2 years and 4 months). Nevertheless, the young squad, in which not a single field player is older than 29, still has development potential.
Conclusion: As early as 2023/24, the Stuttgart managed to land in front of the Munich as runner -up. If Woltemade can shake off the change theater and build on its form of the year, the Swabians are a candidate for the role of Bayern hunter number one. Whether that would mean a real risk to the Munich in the title race in the end is on a different sheet.
RB Leipzig – A lot of expensive talent, but still a long way for Werner and Co.
After the worst season of Bundesliga history, RB Leipzig turned his squad turned down. Ole Werner is the new trainer and six players were brought to the brown club for double -digit millions. None of them are older than 23. This is exciting in that Werner in Bremen was not necessarily known to give young players a chance early on. In the trophy of these six players, only wing racers Yan Diomande was allowed to go from the start and, despite his only 18 years, convinced. The full focus of the league and the DFB Cup applies without international burden – this can definitely be an advantage.
Conclusion: Benjamin Sesko’s departure hurts, but if RB manages to leave it and keep Xavi Simons despite all the rumors of change, you have brought so much talent into the squad that a significantly better placement than 7th is absolutely possible. However, the young RB team is not (yet) a real championship candidate.
Bayern Munich – better than last year
Even if Jamal Musiala is still missing for a long time, even if there may be a bit of well -known alternatives on the wing on the wing: Luis Diaz has already shown with all justified discussion about the high transfer fee of around 70 million euros that he can do Bayern better immediately. Jonathan Tah brings a lot of experience on the defensive and Tom Bishop can play almost any position at a high Bundesliga level in the central midfield. In addition, the blood cubs Lennart Karl and Jonah Kusi-Asare were enthusiastic about the season in the season preparation, so that the Vincent Kompany, which has so far been less risky, will possibly enable both joker inserts to both.
Conclusion: The Bayern squad has gaps that may make it very difficult in the premier class, but it is no worse than in the previous year, in which the Munich team became masters with 13 points. Bayern will again win the title this year, if there is no gigantic misery in between.