No surprise here: Bayern Munich go into the title defence as overwhelming favourites. After steamrolling the field last season, the Bavarian giants are back with the same ruthless intent. Dortmund, Leipzig, Leverkusen and Stuttgart are all waiting for the first slip to make things interesting.
Bayern aim to keep the stranglehold
A few tweaks, not a rebuild, at Bayern There was no summer clear-out in Bavaria. The German champions kept the spine of the squad intact and got their business done early, with Nathaniel Brown and Ismael Saibari among the arrivals. Still led by Vincent Kompany, Munich are coming off a huge campaign, capped by a Bundesliga record: 122 goals in 34 matches.
Harry Kane, the scoring machine The face of that attacking juggernaut, Harry Kane keeps racking them up. The England striker has just claimed his third straight top-scorer crown after netting 36 times. Already loaded with domestic silverware, he now has his sights set on the Bundesliga-Champions League double.
Opening test against Stuttgart Bayern kick off their season this Friday night at the Allianz Arena with Stuttgart in town. It is a sharp early test against a side who will fancy their own chances of finishing high up the table.
But the club have also seen some major changes over the summer. Established names such as Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi have left Dortmund, while the hierarchy has opted to place more faith in young talent, including Greek pair Konstantinos Karetsas and Giannis Konstantelias, as well as Frenchman Joane Gadou.
Niko Kovac knows his side will need a standout season to properly challenge Bayern. He believes Dortmund must push beyond their own limits and hope the champions hit a dip.
Leipzig and Leverkusen ready to pounce
RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen round out the clubs most likely to shake up the pecking order.
Both, though, head into the new season with a new man in the dugout. Leipzig have handed the reins to Argentine Martin Demichelis, who replaces Ole Werner. At Leverkusen, Carles Martinez Novell takes over from Kasper Hjulmand.
Those changes make them harder to judge, but both clubs have recent experience at the sharp end in Germany and in Europe.
If anyone is going to stop Bayern from disappearing over the horizon again, the chasers will need to find another gear. The opening weekend should offer a few clues, but the season is a long one: with domestic rivals and European demands piling up, the holders will have plenty on their plate too.
Credit photo : INA FASSBENDER / AFP
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