Bayern Munich reclaimed the Bundesliga crown and will aim to start a new record-breaking streak of consecutive titles. Vincent Kompany heads into his second year at the helm of the Rekordmeister with a roster that is relatively similar to last season.
Bayern added Luis Díaz, Jonathan Tah, and Tom Bischof but also said farewell to Thomas Müller, Leroy Sané, Mathys Tel, Eric Dier, and Adam Aznou.
Here are the predictions from BFW’s writers for the upcoming season.
Michael Scott aka LoneStar249
Most Valuable Player: Michael Olise
Piggybacking
on a fantastic 2024/25 campaign, Olise will take over a more dominant role in the offense during the absence of Jamal Musiala. This will allow to fully recover and be able to contribute during the Rückrunde. Olise’s Ballon d’Or buzz won’t last all season, especially as Harry Kane retains the scoring title, but Olise will be the primary playmaker for Bayern.
Biggest Surprise: Hiroki Itō
A lot of Bayern fans have forgotten that Itō is even on the squad after spending all but 250 minutes of last season dealing from injuries. Kim Min-jae is back in the doghouse and Tah’s lack of speed is not a great fit for Kompany’s high line. Itō‘s versatility to play at left-back and center-back will push him back into the squad once injuries start to pop up.
Biggest Disappointment: Leon Goretzka
After rudely being told to get lost last summer, Goretzka put his head down and became the comeback player of the season. With a healthy Aleksandar Pavlović and promising newcomer Bischof, Goretzka will fall back down the depth chart as the old guy in the room, even if he is only two days older than Joshua Kimmich.
Best Addition: Luis Díaz
Fans will quickly grow tired of Díaz’s inefficient finishing but his work rate will be unmatched and he will play nearly every match, usually as a starter. This mentality will be contagious and lift the team throughout the season. Tah will be replaced by Itō by the end of the season. Bischof is a year or two away from being the player that Bayern needs in the starting lineup.
Bundesliga: Champions
The rest of the Bundesliga contenders remembered that they were selling clubs during this summer transfer window. Bayer Leverkusen (Florian Wirtz), Eintracht Frankfurt (Hugo Ekitike), Borussia Dortmund (Jamie Gittens), and RB Leipzig (Benjamin Šeško) shipped off their best attacker for at least €50M and replaced them with a significantly cheaper option. Bayern will dominate the league again and have the title wrapped up in April.
Champions League: Quarterfinals
Unless the knockout round matchups are incredibly favorable, Bayern will fall to a stronger, healthier team. Bayern’s starters have proven that they are capable of beating the other favorites, like Paris-Saint Germain, Manchester City, Liverpool, Barcelona, and Real Madrid. If Bayern added Wirtz, this might be a different story. But all of Bayern’s moves this offseason replaced similar talents, rather than clear upgrades.
DFB-Pokal: Champions
Bayern has only reached the quarterfinal once in the past five seasons since lifting the trophy in 2020. With the other German clubs rebuilding this season, Bayern will finish the season with the domestic double.
RIPLT
Most Valuable Player: Harry Kane
I know, how unsurprising. But that’s kind of the whole point. Kane is THE person to lead Bayern to success in the upcoming season, and it has been said before that it is impossible to replace him (with the players the team has anyway). The England striker is without a doubt a key cog in Vincent Kompany’s system, and that it gets nullified if you take him out. That’s just how good he is.
Biggest Surprise: Tom Bischof
Bischof has impressed me in the limited time that he has played in, proving that he’s a great shout to start in Bayern’s shorthanded midfield. With any luck, he will fight for and nail down his position in the starting XI, showing everyone why the former Hoffenheim man is one to look out for in the coming years.
Biggest Disappointment: Serge Gnabry
I would normally say Leon Goretzka but I’ve already made my thoughts about him crystal clear. Of course, it would be rude not to single out a player that is equally unambitious. Gnabry has not been his usual clinical self like in 2019 and 2020, instead regressing into a woefully out of form and unfit winger that somehow gets picked to play in games. With Lennart Karl challenging him for an attacking spot and Jamal Musiala soon returning to the fold, he will eventually become surplus to requirements.
Best Addition: Luis Díaz
It has been a slow start for the Colombian winger, but I believe that he will eventually get used to Kompany’s style of play and blossom into a crucial player that will chip in with goals and assists. His defensive hustle will greatly help the team nail down the left side until Alphonso Davies comes back.
Bundesliga: Champions
Looking at the rest of the league, it would be hard to imagine that the supposed title challengers could do enough damage to stop Bayern from reclaiming the Meisterschale. That of course would mean that the Rekordmeister must play in near perfect form to ensure that the league trophy is once again theirs to keep.
Champions League: Quarterfinals
With the current team, I don’t see them getting past the last eight of the Champions League. The furthest that Bayern got since the last time they won it was the semifinals. With several players still out of commission, it’ll be tricky navigating the group phase but the return of the said players will give the Germans that extra push to make it to the knockouts. If they’re lucky, the semifinal is not out of the question.
DFB-Pokal: Champions
Bayern still have the goods to win the Pokal, as long as they stick to their game and avoid any unnecessary mishaps. As successful a club Bayern is, the fact that they haven’t won it in five years is a shocking fact. It has to be remedied, and the Bavarians will do just that.
zippy
Most Valuable Player: Joshua Kimmich
The man who is the heartbeat of the Bayern midfield and going to be the next captain deserves his plaudits. He is more indispensable than often given credit for and his leadership and quality of play will shine through.
Biggest Surprise: Leon Goretzka
Goretzka surprised last season by just breaking back into the lineup. The midfield is getting crowded with the surge of Aleksandar Pavlović and the arrival of Tom Bischof. But as the Supercup showed, Goretzka isn’t going to disappear — and Kompany might have just found the way to maximize him. The season will be long, so look for Bayern’s #8 to get a healthy share of minutes, break into the box regularly, and score some memorable goals.
Biggest Disappointment: The transfer window
It already is, right? What even is happening?
Best Addition: Luis Díaz
The former Liverpool winger looks like an outstanding fit in Vincent Kompany’s system already and will shore up the void left by Leroy Sané. He likely slots in better as a left-sided inverting forward with his nose for goal.
Bundesliga: Champions
At some point Bayern might pay for haphazard squad planning and coaching changes, but that is not going to be this year. Star power, hungry young stars on the rise, and a team that believes in its gaffer. Kompany Year 2 will be a smashing success.
Also, Bayern’s rivals have taken real hits in the transfer window.
Champions League: Champions, baby 😎
Come on. Bayern did not sign Harry Edward Kane just to count itself out of UCL contention every single year he is here. The England captain is not some mere conjurer of cheap goals, he is an elite and complete modern forward that elevates everyone around him. Bayern have had the quality in recent years, too, but fallen short. This year’s as good a time as any to go all the way.
DFB-Pokal: A wild loss to FC Energie Cottbus in the 2nd round
The best cup competition on earth is always going to produce zany results and Bayern is not immune to being felled by an underdog. Don’t bet on it, per se, but the abbreviated preseason, Club World Cup fallout, and injuries should mean Bayern takes time to settle in early on. There will be bumps along the way, and if one of them is the Pokal, that’s several fewer English weeks to grind down the team in the Hinrunde. They’ll come back with a vengeance in the spring and dare I say peak at the right time.
Who knows? Maybe the thirst for the German cup keeps Kane around another year. What? I’m not delusional.
CSmith1919
Most Valuable Player: Harry Kane
This feels like the perfect time for Kane to just…go off. Surrounded by Luis Díaz, Michael Olise, and eventually Jamal Musiala, this should be Kane’s chance to really market himself to the highest bidder for next summer. With Joshua Kimmich bringing the creativity from the midfield, this could be Kane’s best season in Bavaria as the attack should look to get him the ball more than ever.
Biggest Surprise: Tom Bischof
The kid plays with a massive edge and during a summer where he was almost a “forgotten about” addition, he could eventually play a big role for this team.
Biggest Disappointment: Jonathan Tah
Bayern Munich might have overvalued the former Bayer Leverkusen defender. The early returns are not great.
Best Addition: Luis Díaz
It is slim pickings here (next summer could be wild, though), but Díaz looks like he is set to be a very important part of the attacking group and already looks like a nice fit. The Colombian brings an electric feel to the left-wing spot, but if he can just be consistent, he will provide a massive upgrade.
Bundesliga: Champions
No one else is ready to challenge Bayern Munich. Borussia Dortmund is the closest rival, but still lacks a winning mentality. RB Leipzig will take time to figure out its identify, VfB Stuttgart lacks good center-backs, Eintracht Frankfurt is a nice dark horse, but incurred too many losses, and no one else is a serious contender. This season, the league will live up to the moniker “Bayern-liga.”
Champions League: Quarterfinals
Bayern Munich will give it a strong run, but the field — Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Liverpool, Real Madrid, and FC Barcelona — is maybe a step above where Bayern Munich needs to be. Can the Bavarians get there? Sure…it could happen, but it feels like the hill might be too steep of a climb.
DFB-Pokal: Champions
This is the year! The boys will maintain focus, stick to what works, and just run through the tournament. As always, this will depend on how well Bayern Munich adjusts to facing parked bus after parked bus. This season, it just feels like everything will fall into place.
Frank Mo
Most Valuable Player: Aleksandar Pavlović
He has had his first year, in which he charmed all Bayern fans with his promise. The second year, in which a bright start was ruined by some unfortunate injuries. Now, in his third, he will truly start to shine. In a midfield that has been perhaps too reliant on Joshua Kimmich to provide control over the midfield and dictate the tempo of the match, Pavlović will do much to ease the burden on the Germany captain’s shoulders. In fact, he will start to dominate games in ways even Kimmich cannot and break Kimmich’s strangehold as the most important player in midfield. It is certainly a big swing to make this call, but is it not the point of these predictions to be bold?
Biggest Surprise: Dayot Upamecano
The kids lost the surprise factor due to their performances in friendlies. Instead, my candidate for the biggest surprise this season is someone who is still very much underrated by a large part of the Bayern fanbase. Upamecano’s fundamental qualities were obvious when he arrived in Munich and, after a shaky first year, his performances have largely been excellent. It is, of course, those matches where he lost his head in important moments that stick in the mind of many fans, but they also serve to ensure that his usual excellency goes under the radar. That excellency matured into genuine star quality last season, but still some refuse to believe it. Upamecano will shock people by just how good he will be. And this time he will be that good for the whole season, too.
Biggest Disappointment: Jonathan Tah
I do not like to dwell on negativity, especially when little of it is critique. I have simply never liked Jonathan Tah the player and his last couple of years have failed to convince me he is good enough to play for Bayern. I do really hope he proves me wrong.
Best Addition: Tom Bischof
The youngster is a gem, has an extremely large skillset and only just turned 20. Not only that, but he perfectly fits Kompany’s system. This is a slam dunk of a transfer, in my eyes.
Bundesliga: Champions
Bayern may lack in depth, at this moment in time, but the rest of the Bundesliga have lost enormous amounts of quality this season. They do not seem in any position to close the gap at the moment.
Champions League: Semifinals
It is hard to see Bayern winning the Champions League the season, with the way the attack is currently shorn of many options. Nevertheless, the quality of the first XI has improved and does not need to shy away from any team in the world.
DFB-Pokal: Champions
Has to be. If Bayern do not win the Pokal this season, it will have be a 6 year drought since the last time. That is genuinely unacceptable.
RuneKing Thor
Most Valuable Player: Harry Kane
This is a difficult pick, mainly because of some good talent addition to the squad. It does feel like the overall quality improvement is going to boost supply to the striker and as a result a season with plenty of goals ahead for Harry Kane. HK’s quality should see him finish most of his chances and therefore deservingly pick the MVP for the season.
Biggest Surprise: The Bayern youth
We’ve seen some sizzling stuff from the young bunch of Jonah Kusi-Asare, Lennart Karl, Cassiano Kiala, David Dos Santos. Watch out for this handful lot. The most surprising moment I believe would be them put into a big game and not betraying the fact that they are just kids. Their skills, conviction and self-belief has me sold on giving them occasional opportunities in the first team.
Biggest Disappointment: Serge Gnabry
I really wish to he proven wrong here. The number 7 has had a steep decline since the UCL winning days. Regardless, the vacant CAM position for the first six months is his last chance to redeem himself.
Best Addition: Luis Díaz
I admit I’m one of those who is uncomfortable with the price tag in the Diaz transfer. Having said that, it takes nothing away from the top notch quality and spirit that Diaz brings to the pitch. He’s fighter and trickster through and through. I think we are all going to love him.
Bundesliga: Champions
In terms of squad quality and competition quality, this season will see a gap between Bayern and the rest. Wirtz and Xabi Alonso are no longer with Leverkusen, the closest competitor. Bayern has only gotten stronger. Another season where Bayern are poised to lift the BuLi shield.
Champions League: Semifinals
The squad is thinner than ever. March is our favourite month of injury and that’s when it gets serious in the CL. Kompany will be tasked with keeping enough men fit to play in the highly competitive European cup. While Bayern have stayed ahead of squad quality with their summer additions in the Bundesliga, the same can’t be said at the European stage. There are teams that have outspent and outpulled Bayern and have better squads on paper. Getting past the QF will be a major test, but past the semis is a toss up in the air.
DFB-Pokal: Champions
Why not?
Jack Laushway
Most Valuable Player: Michael Olise
Michael Olise was by far the most valuable player for the Bavarians last year. The French winger is only improving, and as long as Kompany realizes he belongs on the wing, the goals and assists will keep coming. With a clear lack of attacking alternatives, this is Olise’s chance to establish himself as the Bundesliga’s best.
Biggest Surprise: Lennart Karl
Lennart Karl has a real opportunity to make an impact in the Bayern attack. With Wanner on his way out, and Musiala sidelined for a good chunk of time, Karl has a chance to prove himself early in the season. Fans have seen great displays in his limited opportunities, but we will have to wait to see if he can truly deliver.
Biggest Disappointment: Luis Díaz
While Luis Díaz should still have a solid season, and there is no reason to indicate he can’t be of value, he will likely disappoint. With the price tag surrounding him, and his age, there is an immediate need to deliver results, and if he can’t get 20+ goal contributions in the Bundesliga in year one, it’ll be difficult to warrant his valuation.
Best Addition: Tom Bischof
The Hoffenheim talent has the chance to be a vital member of this squad. There is real upside in Bischof and potential to snag a spot in the starting XI going forward. While many look at Bischof as an investment for the future, Bischof has the quality to play right now.
Bundesliga: Champions
When teams like RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen have taken significant steps back in terms of quality, there are even less candidates to win the Bundesliga title away from Bayern. VfB Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund have the best chances to dethrone the Munich side, it’s a safe bet to assume Bayern has the quality to win another title, regardless of squad size.
Champions League: Finalists
Bayern Munich are certainly not the club of the 2010s, seemingly qualifying for every semi-final, they are still elite. Perhaps this is the year Bayern will find themselves in a favorable road to the final, where they ultimately meet their maker in Real Madrid or PSG.
DFB-Pokal: Champions
While Bayern is seemingly cursed for early exits in the DFB Pokal in recent years, I am not so superstitious. It should be an exciting tournament, but Bayern are certainly poised to return to form.
