The Bundesliga season kicks off with a match between last season’s champions: Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen. It is the last of the major leagues to get underway, but it is getting off to a flying start with a thrilling match that could begin to determine what the top flight of German football will be like this season. After last year’s surprise, with the BO4 breaking the Bavarian hegemony, there could be a change of cycle or it could be a mere anecdote in Bayern’s dominance. There are also other contenders such as RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund who want to join the party. Stuttgart and other surprises should not be ruled out either.
Xabi’s team won the Super Cup last week, appealing to the epic with a goal near the end and lifting the title thanks to the penalty shootout. However, they did not offer the game that made all of Europe fall in love with last season. They will have to return to their best form if they want to retain their title. However, the draw did help them maintain their position. undefeated in Germany, but today they will face an opponent who will try to destroy that record.
Borussia Mönchengladbach were disappointing last season. They were fighting for the lower positions in the classification, finally finishing in 14th position. In 2024-25 they will try to rebuild themselves and become one of the most competitive teams in Germany again. At the moment, with just a few days left before the transfer market ends, they haven’t made many moves, but they have made some to tweak a squad that doesn’t have any stars. The Albinegros will have to rely on the good functioning of their game plan to try to aspire to Europe again.
The visiting team is the favourite, but Mönchengladbach can spring a surprise at home. We’ll see if Xabi’s team continues in the same dynamic, on the contrary, they are starting off on the wrong foot in this defence of their Bundesliga title.
