Season preview: Who can stop Bayern?

On August 12th, FC Bayern demonstrated their dominance in the Supercup game against Frankfurt. The cup winners were swept off the pitch 5-0, with FCB not giving Frankfurt the slightest chance. This game was a foretaste of how the Bundesliga season could go. At the moment there is no serious opponent for the Munich team who can demonstrate the consistency of the record champions over a season. However, it will be even more exciting for the places behind Bayern. A handful of teams start at the same level, aiming for second place. On the first matchday there are already two high-class games: Bayern Munich – Hoffenheim (Friday, 20.30:18 p.m.) and Dortmund – Leipzig (Sunday, 30:XNUMX p.m.).

The favorites FC Bayern Munich is considered the undisputed number 1 title candidate. After six championships in a row, the team wants to continue the series under new coach Nico Kovac. With the recovered Manuel Neuer, probably the best goalkeeper is back in goal. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen how Kovac performs with a top team. In addition, almost no transfers were made, only Leon Goretzka signed on a free transfer. The two loan players Serge Gnabry and Renato Sanches are also back in Munich. In return, they gave up a regular player like Arturo Vidal. But the championship should only be a formality. Bayern want to bring the title to Munich again this season © Adam Pretty

Borussia Dortmund has been considered Bayern's biggest challenger for years. Last season, however, BVB experienced a season with a lot of unrest and only barely managed to qualify for the Champions League. This year everything should be better again and you want to be the first “Bayern hunter” again. To achieve this, they were active in the transfer market and spent over 70 million euros on new players. But the biggest construction site, that of the center forward, has not been closed (yet). The most prominent newcomer is Axel Witsel. It will also be interesting to see how the young team performs under new coach Lucien Favre. However, the “Black and Yellows” should achieve a top 3 place.

After the sensational runner-up finish in the first season, the past season was a little disappointing for Leipzig. It has proven again that the second season is the more difficult. But the season was certainly very instructive with the double burden of the European Cup. As usual, there were no big-name newcomers, only young talents were brought in. However, with the loss of Naby Keita (to Liverpool for 60 million), the midfield has lost quality and it will be seen how this departure will be compensated. Sebastian Rudy's transfer also fell apart due to Bayern's transfer demands. What's curious is that sports director Ralf Rangnick will be on the sidelines this season until Julian Nagelsmann takes over next summer. For RB Leipzig, qualifying for the Champions League should be the goal. The Leipzig offensive is always good for a lot of goals © GEPA pictures/ Roger Petzsche

Schalke 04 was finally able to qualify for the Champions League again after five years. With the confident second place from the previous season, they made the most of their opportunities. In terms of the squad, you can't keep up with your arch-enemy Dortmund, nor can you keep up with opponents like Leipzig or Leverkusen in terms of budget. Nevertheless, the “Royal Blues” are expected to repeat the previous season. Coach Domenico Tedesco gave the team structure again and, with the exception of Leon Goretzka, all top performers were retained. In addition, the squad has improved both qualitatively and quantitatively. If you get the best out of it again, Schalke can qualify for the Champions League again, otherwise a place in the top 6 should definitely be possible.

Last season came to an unfortunate end for Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Equal on points with BVB and Hoffenheim, they only finished fifth due to a poorer goal difference and missed the qualification for the Champions League that they had hoped for for much of the season. This year, Leverkusen wants a better ending for themselves. Only Bernd Leno was sold (to Arsenal for 25 million euros) and with the 18-year-old Paulinho they may have signed the next shooting star after Leon Bailey. Bayer can be a big surprise with this team and take second place. Last season's shooting star: Leon Baily © Matthias Hangst

Hoffenheim ended the past season sensationally in third place and was therefore able to qualify for the premier class for the first time in the club's history. All important players, apart from Mark Uth, were retained over the summer. The squad has also been greatly improved in terms of width. It will be interesting to see how coach Julian Nagelsmann and the team will deal with his final departure. Hoffenheim has the necessary quality to be at the top again this year. The relegation candidates 1. FC Nürnberg will have a very difficult time staying in the league. The newcomer was not active on the transfer market and, with a few exceptions, the team has hardly any Bundesliga experience. In addition, regular player Kevin Möhwald had to be let go on a free transfer. If new additions are not introduced, it will hardly be possible for the traditional club to avoid relegation.

A tough relegation battle also awaits the second promoted team. Fortuna Düsseldorf cannot give away any points, because in the end everyone will count. In contrast to Nuremberg, they tried to make the squad suitable for the Bundesliga and hired some players. A lot will depend on how striker Marvin Ducksch scores in the Bundesliga. If things work as well as in league two, Fortuna can, with a bit of luck, get into the relegation place. Fortuna Düsseldorf will have a hard time staying in the league © Christof Wolff

Hannover 96 actually played a solid 2017/2018 Bundesliga season. But the constant unrest in and around the club makes “96” a club in danger of relegation. Important pillars in the squad such as Martin Harnik, Salif Sane and Felix Klaus were given up and only some of them were replaced equally. If the team goes through a form crisis and starts a negative series, things could end up being tight for Hannover. The team of Freiburg's cult coach Christian Streich is, like every year, a candidate for relegation. Nevertheless, nothing has been done with it since the resurgence. The Freiburgers don't play magical football, but they have an incredible fighting spirit with which they make up for their technical deficits. Nils Petersen's goals will be important for the club. If he scores everything is good, otherwise things look bleak and Freiburg will be fully involved in the relegation battle. The stars Robert Lewandowski is undisputedly the best striker in the league and one of the best in the world. The Pole struck 257 times in 180 Bundesliga games. This hit rate is definitely impressive. The striker has also been top scorer five times, three times for Bayern and twice for BVB. The 29-year-old will also be good for 20 goals or more in the league this year.

It will be important for Marco Reus to complete an injury-free season. The winger from Dortmund was never able to reach his full potential due to injuries. But for the Black and Yellows he is certainly the most important player on offense and that is why it is important for the entire team that Reus remains injury-free. Marco Reus is captain at BVB this season

Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer had to sit out the entire 2017/2018 season after two serious foot injuries. Now the 32-year-old seems to be fit again and it will be interesting to see whether he can continue his old form.

Winger Leon Bailey was the shooting star of last season. The 21-year-old left winger is lightning fast, impresses with his speed dribbling and his goal threat. He recently extended his contract with Leverkusen until 2023, although it remains to be seen how long the talented Jamaican will stay in the Bundesliga, as he himself is toying with a future in the Premier League.

22-year-old Timo Werner was able to really get started at RB Leipzig. In 77 Bundesliga games he netted 42 times for the “Bulls”. The greatest German striker talent still has to find consistency, but his talent is undisputed. Many people are already talking about him at Bayern as a replacement for Lewandowski. However, the young Werner is still missing something for the class of Robert Lewandowski. First season without HSV The first Bundesliga season without HSV is coming up. The “Dino” suffered its first relegation in the club’s history last year. HSV was the last of the founding members to be relegated from the Bundesliga after 54 years and 261 days. In the Volksparkstadion, the famous clock also has a different function. It no longer shows the Bundesliga affiliation, but instead shows the period of time since the club was founded. Schedule 1st matchday Friday 24nd August 20:30 p.m., Bayern Munich – 1899 Hoffenheim

Saturday August 25nd 15:30 p.m., Hertha BSC Berlin – 1.FC Nuremberg 15:30 p.m., Werder Bremen – Hannover 96 15:30 p.m., Vfl Wolfsburg – Schalke 04 15:30 p.m., Freiburg – Eintracht Frankfurt 15:30 p.m., Fortuna Düsseldorf – Augsburg 18:30 p.m., Borussia Mönchengladbach – Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Sunday 26rd August 15:30 p.m., Mainz 05 – VfB Stuttgart 18:30 p.m., Borussia Dortmund – RB Leipzig

DE 1st Bundesliga International	SP	TV	P
1. Bayern Munich	34	92:28	84
2. FC Schalke 04	34	53:37	63
3. 1899 Hoffenheim	34	66:48	55
4. Bor. Dortmund	34	64:47	55
5. Bayer Leverkusen	34	58:44	55
6. RB Leipzig	34	57:53	53
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Season preview: Who can stop Bayern?

The German Bundesliga will kick off again this weekend. FC Bayern Munich goes into the race as the clear favorite to win the title again.

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