The Bundesliga returns with Bayern Munich beginning their title defence against VfB Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena, but the main question ahead of the 2026-27 campaign is whether any club can prevent another dominant season for Vincent Kompany’s side.
Bayern are overwhelming favourites after completing a domestic double last season and scoring a record 122 league goals, with talisman Harry Kane at the centre of their attack. Their superiority has become so pronounced that some observers believe the Bavarian club now treats the Bundesliga almost as preparation for the Champions League.
Lothar Matthaus expects more of the same. “The battle for starting spots at FC Bayern is more exciting than the race for the German championship,” the former West Germany international wrote in a Sky column, predicting that Kompany’s team would finish more than 10 points clear again.
Bayer Leverkusen briefly disrupted Bayern’s dominance in 2024 under Xabi Alonso, winning the league and cup while remaining unbeaten. That campaign remains the only interruption to Bayern’s supremacy since Borussia Dortmund, managed by Jurgen Klopp, won consecutive titles in 2012.
However, Bayern’s summer has not been entirely calm. The future of sporting director Max Eberl remains uncertain, while frustration grew over the lack of progress on important transfer targets. Replacing Manuel Neuer, who is entering the final season of his contract, is a particular concern, as is strengthening a centre-back position exposed during the Champions League semi-final defeat by Paris Saint-Germain.
Eberl was also criticised after Bayern missed out on Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola. The arrivals of Nathaniel Brown from Eintracht Frankfurt and Ismael Saibari from PSV Eindhoven have helped ease some of that pressure. There are also concerns over Jamal Musiala, whose frequent collapses have unsettled the club ahead of the new season.
Dortmund searching for a challenge
Borussia Dortmund offered encouragement to those hoping for a closer title race after an entertaining Super Cup final. Even so, the Ruhr club begin the campaign with several significant questions to answer.
New Greek internationals Nico Karetsas and Giannis Konstantelias impressed during the Super Cup, but it remains to be seen whether they possess the mental strength required to establish themselves in the Bundesliga.
Joey Veerman will be expected to compensate for the departure of playmaker Julian Brandt, while critics believe Dortmund weakened their attack by allowing Karim Adeyemi to leave. Some regard Adeyemi as one of the best forwards the club has possessed since Jude Bellingham.
Dortmund’s highly regarded scouting operation has also undergone change. Sebastian Kehl has departed and been replaced by Ole Book, a rising figure in German football administration who gained widespread recognition for helping guide SV Elversberg from the Regionalliga to the Bundesliga.
Book may eventually need to identify a successor to head coach Niko Kovac. His style has failed to convince supporters and his contract expires without a renewal agreed. Dortmund won no silverware last season, the first time in a decade that had happened, increasing the pressure for success at Signal Iduna Park.
Leipzig and Stuttgart among the challengers
RB Leipzig have appointed Martin Demichelis after Ole Werner, formerly of Werder Bremen, was dismissed despite leading the club to a third-place finish last season.
Leipzig face the difficult task of replacing winger Yan Diomande, who joined Real Madrid for a club-record fee, as well as striker Lois Openda. They have, however, kept much of their squad, including Christoph Baumgartner, Ridle Baku, Brajan Gruda and Castello Lukeba. All have already demonstrated their ability to perform at a high level.
The club should also have funds available for further additions in January if required. Even so, the ambitious side from eastern Germany do not yet appear to be serious title contenders.
VfB Stuttgart finished fourth last season after Sebastian Hoeneß continued to develop the squad that won the DFB-Pokal in 2024. Their only significant departure has been attacking midfielder Noah Darvich, who moved to newly promoted Elversberg.
Keeping Angelo Stiller, Ermedin Demirovic and winger Jamie Leweling will be important, while Maximilian Mittelstadt and Jeff Chabot provide stability in defence. Feyenoord winger Leo Sauer is expected to add further creativity in the final third.
At Bayer Leverkusen, the appointment of Carles Martinez Novell marks a new beginning after Kasper Hjulmand’s disappointing spell. Hjulmand had replaced Erik ten Hag, who was dismissed after only three matchdays. Martinez Novell is recognised as part of the coaching team that guided Toulouse to their first major trophy, the 2023 Coupe de France.
Leverkusen have lost defender Piero Hincapie to Arsenal and left-back Alejandro Grimaldo to Atletico Madrid. They can nevertheless point to the retention of key players including Robert Andrich, Malik Tillman, Edmond Tapsoba, Exequiel Palacios and Jarrel Quansah.
European ambitions elsewhere
TSG Hoffenheim were the Bundesliga’s most improved team last season under Austrian coach Christian Ilzer. They climbed to fifth, 10 places higher than their 2024-25 finish, and earned a place in the Europa League.
Their defence remains a concern, however, and will need improvement if Hoffenheim are to continue progressing. Left-back Max Rots has arrived from FC Twente, but the team must also adjust to the departure of Bazoumana Toure.
Striker Fisnik Asllani is another likely loss, with the forward expected to leave only four days before the transfer deadline. Hoffenheim have enough quality to challenge for another European place, but their defensive weaknesses could prove costly.
Adi Hutter returns as Eintracht Frankfurt coach after Albert Riera’s turbulent season in charge. Riera fell out with players, club officials and supporters before being dismissed. He later criticised the club’s treatment of him and said he would not take any Frankfurt players into future projects.
Frankfurt finished eighth under Riera, narrowly missing out on European qualification. Their defensive record was particularly worrying, with only one Bundesliga team conceding more goals in 2025-26. The club have made several intelligent signings, including Noel Aseko Nkili from Bayern, but concerns remain over their inexperience. Frankfurt have the youngest squad in the league.
They do possess considerable attacking promise. Jonathan Burkardt is one of Germany’s most gifted young forwards and is expected to form a dangerous partnership with Can Uzun, who was also among the Bundesliga’s most prolific scorers and assist providers last season.
Freiburg’s seventh-place finish brought qualification for the UEFA Conference League and rewarded an impressive campaign under Julian Schuster, a former assistant to Christian Streich.
Schuster’s side will need to replace Johan Manzambi, Junior Adamu and Merlin Rohl, all of whom performed well last season. Their departures could make it difficult for Freiburg to continue climbing the table.
Mainz also endured a dramatic turnaround. After Bo Henriksen’s experimental tenure ended, Swiss coach Urs Fischer revitalised the club at the Mewa Arena. Mainz produced an impressive second-half surge and eventually finished 10th, having spent part of the campaign at the bottom of the table.
Fischer previously led Union Berlin from the second tier into the Champions League. His current Mainz squad looks dangerous in attack but vulnerable at the back.
Schalke return to the Bundesliga
The Bundesliga will regain the Ruhr derby this season after Schalke returned to the top flight following a three-year absence. Their promotion adds further intensity to one of Germany’s fiercest rivalries.
Miron Muslic’s team will hope to avoid a repeat of 2022, when Schalke’s previous return lasted only one season. There is particular concern that too much responsibility has been placed on veteran striker Edin Dzeko, who has agreed to stay for another year.
Schalke, Paderborn and Elversberg will all be focused primarily on survival as the other promoted clubs in the 64th Bundesliga season. For Elversberg, the campaign represents a historic first appearance in Germany’s top division. The Saarland club were playing in the fourth tier as recently as 2021-22.
As they say in Germany: “Jetzt geht’s los”.
