The Bundesliga is back. Champions Bayern are looking to win their eighth title in a row, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are aiming to break the monopoly. Union Berlin make their debut while Paderborn are looking to add another milestone in their intriguing tale. Here are some of the Things to look out for. Bet on the Bundesliga here.
Dortmund bid to break Bayern Munich’s stranglehold?
It has been seven years since a team other than Bayern Munich has won the Bundesliga but they could be in for another bruising fight for the title. Their domestic dominance could be under serious threat with teams such as Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig looking to challenge for the title. Dortmund won back-to-back titles in 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 but, since then, Bayern have been the top dog. However, Lucien Favre’s side pushed Bayern last season, losing the title on the final day of the season. Dortmund have beefed up significantly this summer and now possess a team that can challenge Bayern for the title.
David Wagner challenge at Schalke 04
Schalke 04 appointed former Huddersfield boss David Wagner in the summer and the 47-year-old is expected to reverse the fortunes of the German giants. They were runners-up in the Bundesliga two seasons ago but finished 14th in 2018-19. The question that Schalke will face next season, and that will eventually determine whether they can emerge from the Bundesliga’s basement, is where the goals will come from. Schalke only scored 37 goals last season, the lowest total of any club that wasn’t relegated. Wagner will have to address that before the window closes on September 2. Can Wagner engineer a revival of this sleeping giant?
New start for RB Leipzig and Julian Nagelsmann
RB Leipzig haven’t mounted a serious threat to the Bundesliga’s duopoly just yet, but the 2019/2020 season could see Leipzig finally challenge the top two, Dortmund and Bayern. They also head into their fourth Bundesliga campaign with a new sense of optimism as a new era begins under their 32-year-old manager Julian Nagelsmann. They haven’t spent extravagantly this summer but have also managed to hold on to prized assets and core players Dayot Upamecano, Yussuf Poulsen and Timo Werner. Nagelsmann has enjoyed a meteoric rise in a short period of time just like Leipzig. This season has a lot in store but can they go a step further in challenging for the title?
Baptism of fire for SC Paderborn 07
SC Paderborn’s story in the last few seasons has been nothing but astonishing. Three successive relegations sent the newly promoted German club spiralling down, before an extraordinary twist of fate inspired one of football most fascinating tales. Three years after they were relegated to the fourth tier, they prepare to face Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday as the Bundesliga season kicks off. Paderborn were top of the Bundesliga table just four games into their debut top-flight season in October 2014 which was a fairytale for a club who entered the business in 2005. However, relegation to the amateur Regionalliga was confirmed in 2017. This Saturday might be a baptism of fire against giants Leverkusen but how will they fare?
Union Berlin debut in the Bundesliga
Union Berlin’s play-off triumph over VfB Stuttgart in Bundesliga 2 secured their first-ever promotion to the top flight, making them the 56th club to feature in the league. On Sunday, they will make their Bundesliga debut against RB Leipzig, a watershed moment in their history. Union will be the fifth team from the German capital to play in the top division since the creation of the championship in 1963. They are also the first team to beat a Bundesliga side in the play-offs since 2012. Can they upset another established side on Sunday?