3 Talking Points Ahead of the 2024/25 Bundesliga Season

Football is back, and the excitement is off the charts! The Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and Ligue 1 are already underway, but now it’s time for the Bundesliga to join the party. The last of the “Big 5” leagues kicks off its campaign tomorrow. Get ready for more top-tier action!

The 2024/25 Bundesliga season kicks off tonight with a blockbuster clash between reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach. All signs suggest we’re in for an exciting season, full of unexpected twists and turns. Moreover, with several interesting plot points to unfold during the season, fans should keep a keen eye on Bundesliga. So, here are my three talking points ahead of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season.   

1) Will Bayern Munich and Harry Kane rise to the occasion? 

For the first time in eleven seasons, Bayern Munich failed to clinch a Bundesliga last season. Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen pipped them to the Meisterschale by a comprehensive margin. The Bavarians finished the season in the 3rd spot, with 72 points, a staggering 18 points behind the league winners. To further compound their misery, Bayern ended the season without a single trophy. As a result, Bayern hierarchy sacked Thomas Tuchel and hired Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany as his replacement. 

This decision has puzzled several fans, as Kompany just suffered a relegation with Burnley during the 2023/24 Premier League season. However, the Belgian’s leadership qualities have impressed the Bayern hierarchy. Moreover, they feel that Kompany can work wonders with one of the best squads in Europe. Of course, Kompany can bank on Harry Kane to score, following his 36-goal debut Bundesliga season. Due to his scoring exploits in Bundesliga, Harry Kane has clinched the European Golden Boot for the first time in his career. 

Apart from scoring 36 times in the Bundesliga, Kane also provided 8 assists. His impact wasn’t confined to the domestic league either—he also tallied 8 goals and 4 assists in the Champions League. However, despite his outrageous goalscoring output, one thing always seems to desert Harry Kane; trophies. He joined Bayer from Spurs in order to win trophies, but the English striker is still waiting to break his drought. The chatter about a “Harry Kane Trophy Curse” has only intensified since his transfer, and it’s bound to get louder if he doesn’t lift some silverware soon. Let’s hope that the 2024/25 season could be the season where one of the most accomplished strikers of his generation finally gets his hands on a trophy. 

2) Are Bayer Leverkusen still the team to beat? 

Bayer Leverkusen achieved the unthinkable last season. They not only overcame Bayern Munich to clinch the Meisterschale but doing so in spectacular fashion, finishing the Bundesliga season undefeated. Xabi Alonso and the Leverkusen hierarchy built a team that dominated opponents with relentless pressing and ultra-attacking football. Key players like Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Jeremie Frimpong, Alex Grimaldo, and Edmond Tapsoba formed the backbone of this squad.  

Many expected Europe’s elite clubs to swoop in and dismantle this excellent team, but Leverkusen managed to keep their core intact. Plus, Xabi Alonso also turned down offers from Bayern Munich and Liverpool, choosing to stay and continue his journey with Leverkusen. Besides keeping hold of their core players, Bayer Leverkusen have added some serious quality this summer. The likes of Alexis Garcia and Martin Terrier have joined the Rhineland club to further boost their midfield and forward options. Leverkusen have also completed the signing of 19-year-old defender, Jeanuel Belocian.  

With talented new players joining their already solid core and Xabi Alonso at the helm, Bayer Leverkusen remains a force to be reckoned with. They’re still the team to beat in Germany. Plus, it will be exciting to see how they fare in the revamped UEFA Champions League. 

3) Can Nuri Sahin finally end Dortmund’s title drought? 

Fans of Borussia Dortmund have enjoyed an exciting, but heartbreaking last few seasons. During the 2022/23 season, Dortmund came withing minutes of lifting the Bundesliga title. However, a defeat to Mainz on the final day and a Jamal Musiala goal sealed their fate. For a season which looked so promising, ultimately ended in despair. However, Dortmund manager Edin Terzic took positives from that season and guided BVB to the Champions League final.  

They faced Real Madrid in the finals, but Dortmund players didn’t let the occasion get the better of them. In fact, they dominated Los Blancos for a major part of the game. However, Madrid’s starpower proved too much for BVB, as goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Jr. Handed Real their 15th Champions League title. Following their devastating loss, Edin Terzic resigned as the head coach. In his place the Dortmund hierarchy have decided to hire Nuri Sahin.  

It’s truly the beginning of a new era for Dortmund. Club legends like Marco Reus and Mats Hummels have left the club after their contracts expired. Key contributors in recent seasons like Niclas Fullkrug and Marius Wolf have also left for greener pastures. To fill the gaps left by these veterans, Dortmund have brought in fresh talent including Maximilian Beier, Yan Couto, Serhou Guirassy, Waldemar Anton, and Pascal Groß, investing around 80 million euros in the process. It’s an exciting new beginning for Dortmund fans, but even the most optimistic fans wouldn’t think that this new-look Dortmund side can win the Bundesliga this season. This season feels transitional. 

Also Read: Transfer News: Manuel Ugarte’s Move to Manchester United Edges Closer