Bayern Munich’s hold on the Bundesliga crown could face renewed challenges this season after a turbulent summer transfer window, with traditional rivals Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, and cup holders Stuttgart positioning themselves as serious contenders.
Supercup Kick-Off Signals a New Era Bayern travel to Stuttgart on Saturday for the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, the season opener between the defending Bundesliga champions and reigning German Cup winners. Winners of 12 of the past 13 league titles, Bayern remain favourites but have faced a summer of setbacks.
Transfer Setbacks for the Bavarians Attempts to lure Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen were unsuccessful, as the German Footballer of the Year opted for Liverpool in the Premier League. Bayern did secure attacker Luis Diaz from the English champions, but saw key departures, including Thomas Müller, Leroy Sané, and Eric Dier on free transfers. Kingsley Coman is expected to move to Saudi Arabia, Mathys Tel’s Spurs loan was made permanent, and efforts to sign Germany striker Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart were rebuffed.
Bayern captain Joshua Kimmich acknowledged the uncertainty across the league. “We’ll see who knocks at the top. For us, it will be important to go our own way. We can’t influence what the others will do,” he said. Kimmich highlighted RB Leipzig as a team to watch, noting their ability to focus solely on the Bundesliga after missing European football last season.
Leverkusen Faces Post-Wirtz Rebuild Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern’s main challenger over the past two seasons, has undergone a significant overhaul. Key players Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Granit Xhaka have departed for the Premier League, while defender Jonathan Tah has joined Bayern. The loss of coach Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid adds further disruption. Incoming manager Erik ten Hag inherits a largely new squad, tasked with maintaining the momentum of a third-place finish last season.
Dortmund and Frankfurt Rebuilding for Impact Borussia Dortmund, quietly rebuilding under Niko Kovac, could again challenge Bayern. Kovac, appointed mid-season, lifted Dortmund from 11th to fourth, securing 22 points from the final 24. Strengthening the midfield with Jude Bellingham, Dortmund retain continuity with minimal departures, most notably winger Jamie Gittens to Chelsea.
Eintracht Frankfurt are also adjusting after losing centre-forward Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool and winger Omar Marmoush to Manchester City. The club’s focus will be on maintaining last season’s third-place competitiveness while integrating new talent.
Stuttgart: Cup Winners With Momentum Stuttgart, finishing second behind Bayern last season and German Cup winners, appear well-positioned to continue challenging the top. Captain Atakan Karazor praised coach Sebastian Hoeness, crediting him with transforming the team from relegation battlers to European contenders in just over two years. “An amazing coach. You can see his handwriting on everything the team does. From the moment he came in, the mindset of the team changed,” Karazor said.
Outlook With Bayern grappling with a summer of departures and failed transfer targets, the Bundesliga title race promises to be more competitive than in recent years. Dortmund’s steady rebuild, Leverkusen’s overhaul, Leipzig’s focus, and Stuttgart’s momentum all suggest that Bayern’s supremacy is not guaranteed.
