Last season Bayer Leverkusen ended Bayern Munich’s eleven-year title run and lifted their first-ever Bundesliga crown. Bayern will be hopeful of regaining the title but will face fierce competition from the rival clubs.
Let us take a look at 3 questions ahead of the new Bundesliga season.
1. Will Bayer Leverkusen Retain Their Title
Bayer Leverkusen made history last season winning their first-ever Bundesliga title. They did a domestic double by also lifting the DFB-Pokal and ending the season unbeaten in the domestic competitions. Xabi Alonso’s men would look to continue where they left off last season and with the arrival of Martin Terrier, Aleix García, and Jeanuël Belocian, Leverkusen will come into the new season with their tails up.
This season, Leverkusen will also compete in the highest tier of European football, the UEFA Champions League. They would be hopeful of making it into the deeper stages of the competition but as is the case with most big clubs across Europe, the competition could take its toll on Xabi Alonso’s men.
Bayern will be motivated to regain the Bundesliga title this season and winning back-to-back Bundesliga titles would be a challenge for Bayer Leverkusen.
2. Can Harry Kane End His Trophy Drought?
Harry Kane has enjoyed a sensational career so far and he ended his maiden season in the Bundesliga as the top goal-scorer with 36 goals. However, the former Tottenham superstar has yet to win a trophy in his career after finishing second in the Bundesliga and England’s second consecutive heartbreak at the Euro final.
Given Bayern Munich’s dominance in German football, the silverware seems inevitable at some point but the 31-year-old will be well aware of his age and will be eager to get hold of a trophy sooner rather than later. Michael Olise and João Palhinha have been the latest additions to the Bayern squad and despite a slip-up last season, Vincent Kompany’s side will be the favorites to lift the Bundesliga again.
3. Which Team Will Be the Surprise Package?
Last season VfB Stuttgart punched above their weight and finished second in the Bundesliga. Sebastian Hoeneß transformed Stuttgart’s fortunes and guided the club to their best-ever Bundesliga finish since the 1991-92 season.
In the 2022-23 season, Union Berlin were the surprise package finishing fourth in the Bundesliga, and earning Champions League qualification.
This season the newly promoted FC St. Pauli are tipped to be the surprise package of the Bundesliga. They have appointed Alexander Blessin as their new head coach as a replacement for Fabian Hürzeler who guided them to promotion last season. Blessin was the head coach of Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium last season and guided his side to the first position in the regular season. He also lifted the Belgian Cup and was awarded the Jupiler Pro League Coach of the Season.
Blessin will now look to continue his good work in the Bundesliga and with a talented squad at his disposal, St. Pauli could well impress with their football this season.
Read More: 3 Questions Ahead of the New Premier League Season
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
