By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Defending champions FC Bayern München get the ball rolling for the 63rd season of the Bundesliga to RB Leipzig at the Allianz Arena after beating VfB Stuttgart 2-1 in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup.
Marquee summer signing Luis Díaz netted his first goal for the club in that game and linked up well with fellow scorer Harry Kane. And with Michael Olise added into Bayern’s attacking mix, will Vincent Kompany’s men lay down a marker against a new-look, rejuvenated Leipzig side?
It’s been a summer of change too for Bayer 04 Leverkusen, who got off to a winning start under new coach Erik ten Hag in the DFB Cup last week.
Some big names may have left in the off-season, but in Ibrahima Maza, Ernest Poku, Jarrell Quansah and Malik Tillman, among others, the 2024 Bundesliga champions will have several exciting arrivals on show when they take on TSG Hoffenheim in their opener on Saturday.
It’s a similar story for Eintracht Frankfurt, who are out to build on last season’s third-place finish despite some high-profile departures. Dino Toppmöller has made some shrewd signings as well, most notably in attack, where Jonathan Burkardt and Ritsu Dōan hint at plenty more to come for the Eagles – starting with Saturday’s home game against SV Werder Bremen, who themselves enter a new era under Horst Steffen.
Borussia Dortmund ended last season on a high and will be out to continue their upward trend in a tricky Matchday 1 assignment at FC St. Pauli, who had the second-best defensive record in the Bundesliga last season. Niko Kovač’s BVB squad has largely remained intact, but with extra drive added in the form of Jobe Bellingham, younger brother of former midfielder Jude.
The weekend’s action is rounded out by two fallen giants making their return to the top flight. Sunday begins with last season’s Bundesliga 2 champions 1. FC Köln taking on 1. FSV Mainz 05 in what’s sure to be a festival of colour between two Carnival clubs, while fellow promoted side Hamburger SV – back in the promised land for the first time since 2018 – are at Borussia Mönchengladbach.