Leverkusen to retain title or will Bayern bounce back?

Bayer Leverkusen's record-breaking title triumph past play was a activity of caller aerial for nan Bundesliga.

The truth Bayern Munich's seemingly robust grip connected nan trophy was yet surgery raises hopes nan upcoming run and pursuing years successful Germany will beryllium competitive.

However, contempt their struggles past year, Bayern spell into nan 2024-25 play - which kicks disconnected connected Friday pinch Leverkusen astatine Borussia Monchengladbach - arsenic favourites erstwhile again.

The grounds 33-times champions, who had won 11 titles successful a statement earlier Leverkusen's historic unbeaten convention campaign, person made immoderate important changes, including hiring Vincent Kompany arsenic their caller manager.

While nan erstwhile Burnley leader whitethorn not person nan emblematic way grounds of a Bayern manager, he has impressed successful his first weeks successful charge.

His possession-based marque of football, which was evident during his clip astatine Anderlecht and his first twelvemonth pinch Burnley successful nan Championship, suits Bayern and their personality well.

Plus, Kompany has had nan joyousness of welcoming a fewer awesome signings during nan summertime - astir notably Michael Olise and Joao Palhinha.

Interestingly, Palhinha was nan subordinate Kompany's predecessor Thomas Tuchel desperately wanted past play earlier a projected woody pinch Fulham fell through.

Palhinha has now been signed arsenic nan Bavarians' holding midfielder and looks group to beryllium nan astir ascendant subordinate successful beforehand of Bayern's backline since Javi Martinez a decade ago.

One subordinate who mightiness not extremity up astatine Bayern earlier nan summertime transportation model closes is Jonathan Tah.

The 28-year-old German world was connected nan verge of moving from Leverkusen a mates of weeks ago, but nan 2 clubs person not managed to scope a deal.

Even though Tah's statement expires successful 2025, Leverkusen are loathe to suffer their protect leader.

To this point, nan reigning champions person been capable to support each their cardinal players from past season.

Leverkusen's halfway group - including Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Jeremie Frimpong and Alex Grimaldo - person each decided to enactment and effort to take sides nan title nether nan tutelage of Xabi Alonso.

In fact, Leverkusen person been capable to fortify their squad. Midfielder Aleix Garcia, signed from Girona, looks to beryllium Xhaka's caller midfield partner, while defender Jeanuel Belocian and winger Martin Terrier person been brought successful to springiness Alonso moreover much options.

Leverkusen showed 1 of their main characteristics astatine nan play against VfB Stuttgart successful nan German Super Cup, managing to people a last-gasp equaliser contempt being a man down.

Leverkusen yet hit Stuttgart connected penalties to unafraid nan first portion of silverware of nan 2024-25 campaign.

But it is improbable Alonso's players tin execute arsenic galore last-minute wins arsenic past play - having scored astatine slightest 17 goals successful nan 90th infinitesimal aliases later crossed each competitions.

The imaginable of astatine slightest immoderate drop-off successful capacity is likely, but that does not needfully mean Leverkusen will beryllium incapable to situation Bayern and others.

Alonso's broadside did, aft all, decorativeness 18 points supra third-placed Bayern successful 2023-24 and 17 points up of runners-up Stuttgart.

In nan slipstream of Bayern and Leverkusen are 2 different teams pinch ambitions of competing for nan German championship.

The first is Borussia Dortmund, now coached by Nuri Sahin pursuing nan departure of Edin Terzic.

Dortmund reached nan Champions League last nether Terzic past season, but nine power-brokers were concerned astir nan deficiency of wide progress.

Dortmund ended nan play 5th successful nan Bundesliga - 27 points down Leverkusen - and only reached this year's Champions League because of nan altered format, which granted nan German convention 5 spots.

Sahin is moreover little knowledgeable than Kompany and Alonso, but nan wide dream is nan erstwhile Liverpool midfielder could amended Dortmund's possession crippled to predominate play for illustration Bayern and Leverkusen.

Dortmund were moreover much progressive successful nan transportation market, signing Germany internationals Pascal Gross, Waldemar Anton and Maximilian Beier, while Man City's Yan Couto and Serhou Guirassy from Stuttgart besides arrived.

Guirassy was 2nd successful nan Bundesliga scoring charts down Harry Kane past play and has fundamentally pushed Niclas Fullkrug, who has joined West Ham, retired of nan door.

It is up to Sahin to put nan pieces together effectively. Unlike Terzic, nan caller head cannot count connected moments of brilliance from a fewer attacking players, particularly now Jadon Sancho has near nan nine erstwhile again.

The 4th Bundesliga contenders successful 2024-25 look to beryllium RB Leipzig.

Despite losing Dani Olmo, head Marco Rose has a acquainted group of halfway players, including Xavi Simons who has remained connected indebtedness from Paris St-Germain for different year.

The biggest headache for nan 47-year-old head mightiness beryllium his midfield wounded woes, arsenic Xaver Schlager and Assan Ouedraogo will miss nan commencement of nan play - pinch nan erstwhile being retired for a sizeable magnitude of time.

But sloppy of that, Leipzig boast an outsiders' chance of challenging astatine nan acme during nan upcoming campaign.

Leverkusen's stunning triumph past play ended Bayern's Bundesliga monopoly. And nan convention could beryllium group for different breathtaking title title pinch aggregate teams, charismatic managers and talented players.

It is genuinely a activity of caller air.