The 2024-25 Bundesliga season is up and running, and so is the same central question – can anyone stop Bayern Munich? Despite being the dominant force across Europe for years, now has legit competition in teams like Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig. As we head towards the future games, here is a closer look at whether Bayern’s rivals have enough to overcome them and what the odds at https://www.betastic.com/ say.
Bayern’s Strong Start but Tough Tests Ahead
The start in the season of Bayern Munich till now is decent, and they won some crucial matches such as Wolfsburg and Freiburg. Yet their true exams lie ahead. Matchday 5 sees the reigning champions (Bayer Leverkusen, dethroned Bayern following an unbroken title run lasting for over a decade) face up to ‘the Rekordmeister’.
One of those clashes is scheduled for Sept. 28 and should serve as a critical September yardstick. Leverkusen, with Xabi Alonso at the helm are already a power to reckon and have not lost in their last three matches against Bayern. Bayern’s new coach, Vincent Kompany has a tough task on his hands to address this massive obstacle.
Then comes another challenging run of fixtures for the reigning champions, with a match against Leipzig on December 20 — who have regularly proven to be tough opponents. Leipzig, the team that Marco Rose is set to take charge of next season has always given Bayern a run for their money with almost every game having been contested in recent times.
Leverkusen: The Team to Beat?
Xabi Alonso has turned Bayer Leverkusen into genuine title challengers. Last season, they cantered to a comfortable title with 18 points ahead of Bayern, and such a margin means they are seen as the side that ought to be stopped. A 3-0 victory over Bayern last February provided a changing of the guard, with they are seeking to strengthen their standing when squaring off against Bayern on September 28.
Bayern has played Leverkusen notoriously difficult at home and away this season thanks to a pretty complete squad of youngsters who can develop into world beaters, often underpinned by consummate professionals with many years in the game. And if they can notch another win in this top-of-the-table clash, Bayern Munich’s stranglehold on the Bundesliga will be loosening by some way.
Borussia Dortmund: Flawed and Brilliant
Previous adversary (of Bayern) Borussia Dortmund will also present a radically different challenge. Dortmund were inconsistent last season but they are a side who can still beat anybody when it counts. Before the next game comes along on the weekend of November 31, Dortmund will be hoping for a repeat performance once again having tasted victory in Munich earlier this year.
For Dortmund, it will be all about sustaining form throughout the campaign. They could not achieve that last year due to a lack of consistency which knocked them out of the title race from time to time. Everyone else doesn’t really count, but if they can get their stuff together and find some consistency then Bayern are bang in trouble.
Can Bayern Be Stopped?
Bayern Munich are still the team to beat in Germany, but it promises to be a greater battle than ever this season. Given their sustained success in recent months, Leverkusen looks the most capable of halting Bayern’s title chances, but Leipzig and Dortmund shouldn’t be overlooked either. Those abilities will be tested in the coming weeks as Bayern faces these opponents under Kompany.