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In-depth analysis
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After Harry Kane lifted his second club trophy in his career in the form of the Franz-Beckenbauer-Supercup, the Bundesliga will finally kick off on Friday. As last season’s champions, Bayern Munich will host the Bundesliga opener, welcoming RB Leipzig to the Allianz Arena. Although there was a significant turnover with Leipzig spending €112m on new players while moving on the likes of Benjamin Sesko, and are still in negotiations with Chelsea to sell Xavi Simons, the Red Bulls will be among Bayern’s challengers. The same can be said with Borussia Dortmund, who welcome Jude Bellingham’s little brother Jobe to the club this summer, and Eintracht Frankfurt, who, despite selling Hugo Ekitiké, are poised to have an exciting squad. Plus, there is at least one surprise every season.
With managerial changes, breakout prospects, and a summer of high-profile transfers reshaping the competitive landscape, every club enters the season with something to prove. Drawing on the author’s Bundesliga, we break down the key questions. Who will be Bayern’s biggest challengers for the title? Which team could surprise a few? Which Bundesliga player should we look out for? What about the most exciting U21 star? Or a manager that could make some waves?
The big Bundesliga preview - Who can challenge Bayern Munich?
While Bayern’s starting XI is one of the best in Europe, the squad overall is quite thin. Indeed, Kane raised concerns in a conversation with Transfermarkt in the mixed zone over the size of the squad after the Supercup victory over VfB Stuttgart (2-1). Overall, it feels like Bayern are just an injury away from total disaster. And there are a few clubs that could benefit. The most obvious one this season are Borussia Dortmund under head coach Niko Kovac. Although Dortmund have some concerns in defense, the Black and Yellows were excellent last season once Kovac took over in the spring. In Serhou Guirassy, Dortmund have the most reliable Bundesliga goalscorer in Germany and significant depth in the attack. Should Bayern stumble, this could be Dortmund’s moment to shine.
Surprise team to look out for
The surprise team of the season might be VfB Stuttgart. The DFB Pokal winners managed to fight off Bayern’s interest in star striker Nick Woltemade. The only major departure is Enzo Millot. The French playmaker joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli for €30m. In his stead, Stuttgart managed to sign 2023 U17 FIFA World Cup star Noah Darvich. The 18-year-old arrives from Barcelona. Other notable signings include Tiago Tomás from Wolfsburg, Chema Andrés from Real Madrid, and Serbian wonderkid Lazar Jovanović from Crvena zvezda. In Sebastian Hoeneß, Stuttgart might have the most talented head coach in German football. A top-four finish wouldn’t be a major shock, but maybe even more is possible?
A player to watch
No other player has dominated the headlines more in Germany over the last few weeks than Woltemade . After Bayern Munich failed to sign Florian Wirtz, they quickly moved on to sign Luis Díaz from Liverpool and identified up-and-coming Germany star Woltemade to fill the void. While Bayern succeeded in getting Díaz across the line, they failed spectacularly in their effort to come to an agreement with Stuttgart to sign Woltemade. But what is all the hype about? The 23-year-old is 198cm (6’5) but has incredible one-on-one skills, the ability in small spaces, and a fantastic shot. This offseason, he also worked on using his large frame and, as a result, has drawn comparisons to Erling Haaland and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. There is a good chance that Woltemade could become the biggest star of the upcoming Bundesliga campaign, further increasing his market value.
U21 player to watch
RB Leipzig raised some eyebrows when they signed 18-year-old left-winger Yan Diomande from CD Leganés in a deal worth €20m this summer. Diomande burst onto the scene for Leganés over the last ten games of the 2024/25 LaLiga season, scoring two goals and providing one assist. It was enough to convince Leipzig to pay a fee that was €18.5m more than his current market value. Despite the significant transfer fee over his market value, the money paid might turn out to be a bargain. The Ivorian already scored in his debut in the DFB Pokal against SV Sandhausen, and his incredible talent is there for everyone to watch. Leipzig have an incredible track record when it comes to developing players and selling them on. Diomande is likely to be next.
Manager to watch
There are a few managers to watch this season. Stuttgart’s Hoeneß is perhaps the best head coach in German football. But Freiburg’s Julian Schuster has shown last season that he was capable of walking in the footsteps of the club’s legendary boss Christian Streich. Then there is Sandro Wagner. For a few years now, Wagner has been lauded as one of the biggest coaching talents in German football. The 37-year-old guided SpVgg Unterhaching from the fourth division to the 3. Liga in 2023 and then became an assistant to Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann. Earlier this year, he announced his intention of taking a head coaching position in the Bundesliga and was subsequently linked with several high-profile jobs before signing for Augsburg. A surprise pick, and it will be interesting to see if Wagner can meet the high expectations placed in him.
