Bayern Munich are on the march yet again. After clinching their 11th Bundesliga title on the last day of the season, the Bavarian are looking ahead for yet another dominant season albeit with a new frontman. Behold Harry Kane! The England skipper has joined the German champions this summer from Tottenham Hotspur. (More Football News)
Bayern’s dominant streak has led to concerns over the health of the Bundesliga in an era of one-club domination, but its hold on the title may be more fragile than it seems.
Bayern Munich needed goal difference to retain the Bundesliga ahead of Borussia Dortmund last season and with the arrival of Harry Kane, the Englishman will be keen to dispel any belief that playing for the German champion would be easy.
“It’s going to be a real challenge,” Kane said Sunday. “I know everyone expects Bayern Munich just to walk away and win the league every year but I think, as you see, the teams are improving and it’s getting tougher and tougher.”
Despite a 0-3 loss in the German Super Cup at the hands of RB Leipzig, Bayern do possess a dominant squad that could challenge on all fronts. t still doesn’t have a first-choice goalkeeper with Manuel Neuer injured, and coach Thomas Tuchel has flagged up the lack of a defensive midfielder who would help cover a back line which has been shown to be fragile too often in the past 12 months.
As for fellow challengers Borussia Dortmund, they will look to repeat the last season's heroics that fell short on the final day. Dortmund drew with Mainz when it needed a win to be sure of the championship and Bayern won the league with an 89th-minute goal from Jamal Musiala against Cologne.
Dortmund sold their talismanic player, Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid for 130 million euros and signed Marcel Sabitzer from Bayern and Felix Nmecha from Wolfsburg to add depth in midfield. Left-back Raphael Guerreiro left for Bayern on a free transfer and was replaced with Algeria’s Ramy Bensebaini.
As for the rest of sides, Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen have signed Granit Xhaka from Arsenal. They also have the likes of Jeremie Frimpong and attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz in the team. There’s one big problem, though — Alonso will need to reshape Leverkusen’s attack after selling winger Moussa Diaby to Aston Villa.
Leipzig could also mount a title challenge after coach Marco Rose turned the team around last season following a disappointing start. In 29 games under Rose, Leipzig averaged 2.10 points per game — almost exactly Bayern and Dortmund’s rate for the season.
Despite the sales of Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool), Joško Gvardiol (Manchester City) and Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea), Leipzig's Dani Olmo and Timo Werner are potent in attack upfront.
Union Berlin are in the Champions League this season and have added Robin Gosens from Inter Milan.
All eyes will be on Harry Kane this season as the Englishman looks to start a new challenge in Germany. When Robert Lewandowski left Bayern last summer, the German champions look feeble up top but with the addition of Kane, Thomas Tuchel will hope this brings an era of dominance in Europe.
