Last season may have ended without silverware for Bayern Munich, but Cricket BD analysts note that their run to the Champions League semifinals — nearly eliminating Real Madrid — earned the club plenty of respect. That’s why Bayern’s decision to restructure the squad so aggressively has raised eyebrows. After parting ways with Thomas Tuchel, they appointed Vincent Kompany, whose managerial track record is modest at best. Even more puzzling, Bayern sold Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui for a combined €60 million — both considered key defenders.
With Dayot Upamecano’s decline and Kim Min-jae’s inconsistencies exposed, many believe de Ligt was Bayern’s most reliable center-back. Mazraoui, too, consistently delivered in big matches. Letting go of their top defenders for a low fee left fans confused. The only reasonable explanation seems to be financial — Bayern are burdened by one of the league’s heaviest wage bills. Reports suggest the club also intends to offload Joshua Kimmich, Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman, and Leon Goretzka, while aging stars Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller edge closer to contract expiration. With many of the Bundesliga’s top earners wearing Bayern red, the club appears desperate to lighten the load.
New faces have arrived, but Bayern spent just €142 million on five players, two of whom — Zaragoza and Sieb — were loaned out, leaving only three genuine additions: French winger Michael Olise, Portuguese midfielder João Palhinha, and Japanese defender Hiroki Ito. Unfortunately, Ito fractured his leg after only one preseason appearance and will be sidelined indefinitely. His intended role was to provide defensive versatility, particularly at left-back, where Alphonso Davies and Raphaël Guerreiro are also options.
Bayern’s likely starting lineup, according to media predictions, will pair Upamecano and Kim Min-jae at center-back, with Josip Stanišić replacing Mazraoui. Pavlović could see increased minutes, while Kimmich may shift to right-back once more. Although Bayern now have more midfield depth, they’ve weakened their wing options, placing expectations on Olise, who tallied 2 goals and 5 assists for France in the Olympics. Despite not being a physical powerhouse, Olise’s vision and passing ability make him a creative force in the final third.
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen — last season’s nearly undefeated treble contenders — retained all 11 starters. Xabi Alonso stayed, and so did Florian Wirtz. Other than Stanišić’s return to Bayern, Leverkusen’s core remains intact, a rare move in contrast to Bayern’s overhaul. As they prepare for European competition, Leverkusen’s consistency could give them the edge, and the Bundesliga title race might be more open than ever.
Ironically, Leverkusen are far from grateful that Bayern didn’t swoop in again. In fact, they’re upset. Bayern had verbally agreed to sign German center-back Jonathan Tah, but after de Ligt’s exit, the club never followed through, sparking public criticism from Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro. Though Carro later apologized, the damage was done. Leverkusen had already prepared for Tah’s departure — bringing back Fofana from loan and signing 19-year-old French defender Belocian for €15 million.
Belocian, who can play centrally or at left-back, boasts strong tackling, aerial skills, and composure — all signs of a future starter. To further prepare, Leverkusen also signed Rennes winger Martin Terrier and Girona midfielder Aleix García. Terrier, known for his pace and dribbling, once tallied 21 goals and 4 assists in a single Ligue 1 season but has struggled since a major knee injury. Leverkusen may offer him the perfect chance to bounce back.
As for García, the ex-Girona playmaker is expected to rotate with Granit Xhaka, who previously handled midfield orchestration alone. The addition gives Alonso more tactical flexibility, reinforcing Leverkusen’s ambitions across all competitions. According to Cricket BD, the 2024–25 Bundesliga is shaping up to be fiercely competitive. Whether Bayern can withstand the surging pressure from Leverkusen, Dortmund, and RB Leipzig remains to be seen.