With the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign now under a fortnight away, Germany’s elite are starting to put together their final summer preparations before things get underway on August 22nd.
Now watching Bayern Munich lift the Bundesliga title in 11 of the previous 12 campaigns, neutrals will be hoping for a far more enthralling title scrap this time around.
As the likes of RB Leipzig and Stuttgart endured respective domestic nightmares last season, some of Germany’s biggest clubs have endured a major rebuild behind the scenes.
Watching Mainz spring an almighty upset last season as they booked an iconic European adventure, there are plenty of Bundesliga dark horses who are looking to write their own piece of history this time around.
With under two weeks until the 2024/26 Bundesliga campaign officially gets underway, we have taken an in-depth look at some of the biggest talking points and headlines from across Germany’s top-flight.
What are the opening round of Bundesliga fixtures?
Recapturing their Bundesliga crown at a canter last season, Bayern Munich will be handed the honour of opening proceedings this month when they welcome RB Leipzig to the Allianz for what is a heavyweight opening weekend showdown.
Although all of Germany’s elite might be looking to lay down their own early markers, the likes of Hamburger will make an emotional Bundesliga return as they make their first top-flight appearance since 2018.
With the opening eight Bundesliga matchups played over the past of three days, here is a full breakdown of all the first top-flight fixtures:
Friday, August 22nd
- 19:30 Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig (Allianz Arena)
Saturday, August 23rd
- 14:30 Bayer Leverkusen vs Hoffenheim (BayArena)
- 14:30 Eintracht Frankfurt vs Werder Bremen (Deutsche Bank Park)
- 14:30 Freiburg vs Augsburg (Europa-Park Stadion)
- 14:30 Union Berlin vs Stuttgart (Stadion An der Alten Försterei
- 14:30 Heidenheim vs Wolfsburg (Voith-Arena)
- 17:30 St. Pauli vs Borussia Dortmund (Millerntor-Stadion)
Sunday, August 24th
- 14:30 Mainz vs Koln (Mewa Arena)
- 16:30 Borussia Monchengladbach vs Hamburger SV (Borussia-Park)
Can anyone stop another Bayern romp?
Watching the Allianz hierarchy pay Burnley a reported compensation fee of £10.2million last summer in order to bring Vincent Kompany over to Germany, many were curious how the former Manchester City skipper would cope with such a huge leap up in caliber.
However, although many around Munich might not have been initially excited by Kompany’s arrival, Bayern did recapture their Bundesliga crown at a canter and dethroned Bayer Leverkusen without breaking much of a sweat.
Eventually finishing the 2024/25 campaign holding a remarkable 13-point buffer over the chasing pack, it is no surprise that Bayern open proceedings this month almost universally regarded as a landslide favourite to defend their Bundesliga title this time around.
Although Kompany’s side might have their sights set on shattering even more domestic records this season, the ex-Burnley boss will have one eye on mounting a genuine Champions League charge.
Watching their European adventure come to an end at the quarter-final stage back in April after getting hit with a 4-3 aggregate defeat against eventual finalists Inter Milan, Bayern will have plenty of expectations on their shoulders this year.
How are the Bundesliga title odds looking?
While the likes of La Liga, Serie A and the Premier League all have several legitimate title contenders before proceedings get underway this month, it will not be a surprise to anyone across the globe that the defending champions are pencilled in as a landslide contender to defend their crown.
Reclaiming their Bundesliga title without breaking much of a sweat last season, neutrals will be hoping that one of Germany’s other iconic clubs will be able to push Bayern to the very limit this time around.
With the title odds getting increasingly steep as you scroll down the list of candidates, here are the five leading Bundesliga contenders according to the bookmakers:
- Bayern Munich – 3/10
- Bayer Leverkusen – 7/1
- Borussia Dortmund – 10/1
- RB Leipzig – 16/1
- Eintracht Frankfurt – 50/1
Are Dortmund the most serious contender to Bayern’s crown?
Eventually parting ways with Nuri Sahin back in January and only just hanging onto their spot in the top-half of the Bundesliga standings at the time, Borussia Dortmund certainly had the feel of a squad in the midst of a public crisis.
Rightfully coming under a huge amount of scrutiny from across the continent, Niko Kovac arrived in rural Germany knowing that he had a tremendous job on his hands over the final few months.
However, embarking on what was a sensational rise under the one-time Monaco boss, Dortmund skyrocketed their way up the table and even managed to wrap up what was a lucrative Champions League ticket.
Signing off the 2024/25 campaign with a routine 3-0 romp against Kiel on May 17th, BVB won each of their final five Bundesliga appearances by an aggregate score of 17-6 and they also didn’t suffer a single domestic defeat after returning from March’s international break.
Looking like they could be the most well placed outfit to challenge Bayern Munich this season, Kovac’s side will simply be looking to carry on from where they left off prior to the summer interval.
How will ETH fair at Leverkusen?
Relinquishing their maiden Bundesliga crown last season and also watching Xabi Alonso complete a summer switch to Spanish giants Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen are certainly getting a new era underway.
Making the decision to appoint Erik ten Hag following Alonso’s departure from the BayArena, it is the first managerial role that the 55-year-old has taken since leaving Manchester United back in October.
While ten Hag might have been quick to praise the caliber of the squad that he would be taking charge of following his officially unveiling, the Dutch tactician has seen a huge amount of his big-name stars head for the exit this summer.
Watching both Dutch defender Jeremie Frimpong and playmaking sensation Florian Wirtz complete their own respective blockbuster moves to Premier League giants Liverpool, skipper Granit Xhaka also completed a shock switch to Sunderland last month.
Although ten Hag might have a Champions League finish as his top priority this season, it appears that the former Ajax job could have a major job on his hands at the BayArena and he might not have a huge amount of time on his side.
Who have been the Bundesliga’s most expensive new recruits?
While the Premier League’s elite might have once again shattered a string of financial records this summer, a host of Bundesliga heavy hitters have really splashed the cash ahead of the 2025/25 campaign.
Although the likes of Borussia Dortmund might have scooped some of Europe’s hottest young starlets, it is certainly Luis Diaz’s blockbuster move to Bayern Munich which has stollen plenty of Germany’s transfer attention this summer.
With Leverkusen undergoing what has been a major squad overhaul behind the sevens at the BayArena over the past couple of months, here are the Bundesliga’s #9 most expensive new recruits who all cost over €20million:
1. Luis Diaz (Liverpool to Bayern Munich) – €70million
2. Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven to Bayer Leverkusen) – €35million
3. Jarell Quansha (Liverpool to Bayer Leverkusen) – €35million
4. Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland to Borussia Dortmund) – €30.5million
5. Ritsu Doan (Freiburg to Eintracht Frankfurt – €21million
6. Jonathan Burkardt (Mainz to Eintracht Frankfurt) – €21million
7. Yan Couto (Manchester City to Borussia Dortmund) – €20million
8. Yan Diomande (Leganes to TB Leipzig) – €20million
9. Arthur Vermeeren (Atletico Madrid to RB Leipzig) – €20million
