As the Bundesliga prepares to kick off its campaign, a survey of the league’s managers conducted by the German Press Agency (dpa) reveals that defending champions FC Bayern München remain the overwhelming favorite to retain the domestic title.
Bundesliga Managers Back Bayern München to Retain Title
Ahead of the league’s opening fixture between FC Bayern München and VfB Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena, eleven Bundesliga managers named the Bavarian club as their primary pick for the championship in a dpa survey. Six coaches declined to make a clear prediction or skipped the question entirely. Hoffenheim coach Christian Ilzer pointed to the fundamental strengths of the record champions when explaining his forecast. According to Ilzer, Bayern possesses the strongest individual quality and the deepest squad to navigate a demanding 34-game schedule. SC Freiburg coach Julian Schuster echoed that assessment, stating that as long as Kompany remains at the helm, the club will likely continue its dominance.
The Outsider Bids: Stuttgart and Paderborn’s Bold Claims
Despite the consensus surrounding Munich, two managers pointed toward challengers outside the traditional upper tier, though not mentioning Borussia Dortmund. Paderborn coach Ralf Kettemann delivered the boldest forecast of the survey by naming VfB Stuttgart as his choice for the title. Meanwhile, Borussia Mönchengladbach coach Eugen Polanski designated FC Bayern as his top candidate while offering an outsider tip for Stuttgart. The Swabian club earned widespread respect following their development under coach Sebastian Hoeneß, culminating in a DFB-Pokal victory in 2025 and a summer tournament final appearance. However, managers acknowledge that mounting a sustained challenge against Kompany’s squad remains a formidable task.
Uncertainty for Dortmund and Leipzig Amid Squad Overhauls
Unlike Stuttgart, neither Borussia Dortmund nor RB Leipzig received backing as title favorites from opposing managers, largely due to significant roster turnovers. Dortmund enters the new term trying to offset the departures of players such as Karim Adeyemi, Julian Brandt, and Niklas Süle. Attention in the Ruhr valley centers on whether newcomers lacking prior Bundesliga experience can quickly integrate. During a 2-1 defeat to Bayern in the Franz-Beckenbauer-Supercup, Greek arrivals Konstantinos Karetsas and Giannis Konstantelias offered glimpses of potential. Last season, Dortmund finished as runners-up, 16 points behind the champions. RB Leipzig faces a similarly transitional period following the departure of star striker Yan Diomande to Real Madrid. The Saxony side appointed former Bayern player Martín Demichelis as head coach, raising questions about whether a debutant manager can disrupt the established order.
Matthäus Predicts Another Comfortable Run for Munich
External analysts foresee a similarly straightforward path to the championship for the record-holders. Former national team player Lothar Matthäus wrote in a Sky column that he expects the Bavarians to secure the trophy with a margin of at least ten points over the nearest competitors, matching the comfort of their previous campaigns. Within the club, sporting director Max Eberl maintained a standard of relentless ambition. Eberl noted that representing FC Bayern inherently carries the burden of favoritism regardless of opponent or venue, emphasizing the team’s objective to build upon the stellar performances of the prior year. The opening match of the season gets underway at 20:30 local time (CET) and is broadcast live via Sat.1 and Sky.
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