In a few weeks one of the most competitive leagues in world football gets back underway. Today, we will dive into the Bundesliga and see how the stand out teams shape up ahead of the new season.
After a dramatic end to the 2022/23 Bundesliga season that left fans across the country in despair or jubilation, everything is set for another memorable nine months of German football.
Top Level Performers
What better place to start than German giants Bayern Munich, last year they maintained their domination on the title at the expense of Borussia Dortmund on the final day of the season, Bayern will hope that this year they don’t leave the title until the final day!
Many signings have not gone to plan for Bayern in recent years including players like Mane and Gravenberch. They will also hope that stars such as Sane will have a bigger impact this year with fellow teammates such as Gnabry and Coman. There is a lot of quality within the squad but many players have not been in top form which they will hope this will change in the near distant future.
This year, Bayern who are managed by former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel will hope they can ensure their dominance over the league once again this year. They still have some unbelievable talent running throughout the squad however, they want to improve in certain areas.
They have been heavily linked with many stars across Europe including English and Spurs main man Harry Kane. This deal has been spread out all across summer and has yet to be finalised. Bayern are desperate for a striker and Kane could be the perfect fit, if this does not get done soon they might have to move on to other targets.
Dortmund will hope for more of the same, last year they were superb and arguably should of won the title but they couldn’t get over the line on the final day.
Borussia Dortmund were unable to wrestle the Bundesliga Meisterschale away from Bayern Munich after drawing 2-2 at home to Mainz on the final day of the season. This year they have lost English midfielder and Dortmund's young captain Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid. The wonderkid has been vital for Borussia Dortmund and was the heartbeat in the middle of the park.
As we all know over the previous year’s Dortmund have signed young players and developed them to a very high standard. They then sell these players for huge profit margins, a few examples include, Sancho, Haaland and Jude Bellingham. This is a club strategy that works and they will look forward to many more young talents beaming through the first team.
Elsewhere, Union Berlin finished in the top four for the first time, they were arguably the most impressive team last year shocking many as they secure Champions League football.
As the only Berlin side in the Bundesliga after Hertha’s relegation, Union will be flying the flag for the capital and will hope to reach the same heights.
RB Leipzig also qualified for the Champions League, this is a good season for Leipzig and they will hope for the same once again. Leipzig have been regulars at the top end of the table since there arrival in the top flight.
Leipzig had of plenty success in cup competitions however, they have only won the league once and failed to mount a serious challenge in years; maybe this year they could take that one step further.
The main threats for these clubs in the upcoming season is Bayer Leverkusen and Freiburg. Leverkusen looked brilliant since Xavi Alonso take over as manager, he has just recently signed a new contract after plenty of interest from fellow European clubs.
They are still in possession of German wonderkid Wirtz who has blown the Bundesliga away at times. Leverkusen could be the underdogs next year and we would not be to surprised if they challenge for the title!
Freiburg will hope to build on last season’s fifth finish, this was a success for the German club but they will hope for more as they are thriving as a club at the moment. They were only a handful of points away from Union Berlin, they will hope to regain a champions league spot in the upcoming season.
The Race For Survival.
At the bottom, recently promoted Heidenheim and Darmstadt will be hoping their stay in Bundesliga lasts longer than just one season.
FC Heidenheim's rise to the Bundesliga has been something of a miracle. Their promotion has drawn comparisons with Luton Town’s unlikely promotion to the English Premier League as both sides have shared success from very low down in divisions.
A town of 50,000 will host Bundesliga football in 2023/24 after Heidenheim secured a historic maiden promotion to the German top flight. Manager Frank Schmidt has guided the club from the fifth-tier to the Bundesliga, they won the 2.Bundesliga on the final day and will hope they can build on this success with staying in the top flight next season.
Darmstadt are Making their first Bundesliga appearance since 2017. They narrowly missed out on the Bundesliga 2 title on the final day back in May. But after a fantastic season under Torsten Lieberknecht, they’ll definitely want to prove a point after a long absence from the top.
Both of these teams will hope for future in the top flight but to do so, they will need to bring VfB Stuttgart, Augsburg and VfL Bochum down to maintain any dreams of survival.
All these teams have the experience in the Bundesliga and wont go down without a fight. The relegation battle could be one to remember!
