Match Info
Location: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
Date: Friday, August 22nd, 2025
Time: 8:30pm local time (2:30pm EST)
TV/streaming: ESPN2, ESPN Plus, Find Your Country
Bayern Munich was busy over the summer. The club traveled to the United States for an eight-figure payout in the FIFA Club World Cup, won three friendlies, and earned a trophy in the inaugural Franz Beckenbauer Supercup. Bayern has not lost a season opener since 2011 and look to extend that streak at home against RB Leipzig.
Despite Leipzig’s meteoric
rise through the Bundesliga ranks, Bayern still holds a significant advantage in the upstart rivalry (11W-8D-3L). Last season, Bayern won 5-1 at home but were held to a 3-3 draw on the road, thanks to a stoppage time goal from Yussuf Poulsen.
Since earning promotion to the top flight in 2016, last season’s seventh place finish was the worst campaign for Leipzig. With no European competitions on tap, Leipzig will throw its full weight into a top four finish in the Bundesliga.
Team news
Here is the predicted lineup, courtesy of Sport Bild:
This is the same lineup that Vincent Kompany used against Stuttgart over the weekend. Michael Olise spent more time in the middle than Serge Gnabry, but there is more of an open rotation with Jamal Musiala out of the starting XI. Konrad Laimer did suffer a calf injury in the Supercup, making Sacha Boey a reasonable choice at right back.
Bayern fans will be clamoring for more minutes from the youth movement. After a successful summer, Lennart Karl, Wisdom Mike, Jonah Kusi-Asare, and Jonas Urbig are all ready for the spotlight. Tom Bischof is ready to contribute but had his appendix removed and will be out of action for at least a month. Paul Wanner also would have been on this list but he has been shipped off to PSV Eindhoven on a permanent basis.Kim Min-jae and Raphaël Guerreiro are also available in the rotation.
From an injury standpoint, Bayern will be without the services of Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies, Aleksandar Pavlović, Tom Bischof and Hiroki Itō.
Leipzig runs a variety of formations but will be adjusting to new manager, Ole Werner. Werner preferred a 3-5-2 during his four year stint at SV Werder Bremen. After the departure of Benjamin Šeško, Leipzig’s offense revolves around Loïs Openda. Xavi Simons is a dangerous weapon in the midfield but might be held out ahead of an impending transfer to Chelsea.
Bayern Munich will kick off its Bundesliga season against RB Leipzig in what should be a fun start to the league season.
The Bavarians are seeking to defend their status as reigning champions, while RB Leipzig is going to look to build a great base of talent into a cohesive team — something that has not always proven to be the easiest task in East Germany.
Let’s get down to it — this is what we have on tap for this edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works — Preview Show:
- What to watch for with RB Leipzig — a team in a constant state of transition.
- Why coaching at RB Leipzig is so difficult and why Julian Nagelsmann was the perfect fit.
- A look at Bayern Munich’s injury situation.
- A guess at Bayern Munich’s starting XI.
- A prediction on the match.
