Bayern Munich began the new campaign the way they finished the last one — with silverware. Vincent Kompany's side claimed the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, the traditional curtain-raiser pitting the Bundesliga champions against the German Cup holders, edging out Borussia Dortmund in a contest that showed the champions are far from complacent despite their dominance.
The match, hosted by Dortmund as last season's runners-up, carried more weight than the average pre-season showpiece thanks to Germany's insistence that the fixture remain on domestic soil rather than be staged abroad. It played out like a competitive league match rather than an exhibition, with Bayern controlling the first half before Dortmund rallied significantly after the break. Nathaniel Brown, one of Bayern's few senior additions this summer, opened the scoring, and the visitors held firm to lift the trophy.
The result reinforced a familiar pattern in German football: whenever Bayern have slipped domestically in recent years, they have historically responded with overwhelming force the following season. That trend played out after Dortmund's title challenges under Jürgen Klopp in 2011 and 2012, and more recently after Dortmund nearly denied Bayern the title on the final day in 2023 and Bayer Leverkusen finally ended their reign in 2024. Two years of vulnerability appear to have again galvanized the Bavarian giants under Kompany, who has reshaped the squad's intensity and culture despite limited transfer activity, bringing in just Brown and Ismaël Saibari as notable senior signings.
Harry Kane, entering a season in which Bayern are pushing his case for the Ballon d'Or, embodied the club's relentless mentality. "It's always about sending a message," Kane said of Bayern's approach to Saturday's match. "Our momentum is to keep pushing, to keep pushing each other and to see how far we can go."
For Dortmund, the encouraging second-half showing offered a glimpse of promise after a summer defined by a shift in strategy. Rather than continuing to chase Bayern through marquee signings, the club offloaded high earners including Niklas Süle, Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi, opting instead to invest in youth. Greek prospects Konstantinos Karetsas and Giannis Konstantelias have joined to inject fresh energy into midfield under coach Niko Kovac, a move widely seen as a sensible, if overdue, recalibration.
Elsewhere in the league, the picture is less clear. Leverkusen, the 2024 champions, endured a turbulent campaign that included a brief spell under Erik ten Hag before Kasper Hjulmand's exit. Sporting director Simon Rolfes described this preseason as "more calm," and despite losing Alejandro Grimaldo to Atlético Madrid, the club has stabilized under new coach Carles Martínez, bolstered by the return of Moussa Diaby from Saudi Arabia.
RB Leipzig face a murkier outlook after selling Yan Diomandé to Real Madrid for a fee more than six times what they paid Leganés for him a year earlier. The club's decision to bring back Christopher Nkunku, who will turn 29 in November, marks an unusual approach for a club typically focused on younger talent, while the appointment of Martín Demichelis — who oversaw Mallorca's relegation in May — as coach carries clear risk.
Further down the table, Stuttgart under Sebastian Hoeness will aim to balance Bundesliga and Champions League commitments, while Freiburg, fresh off a Europa League final appearance, have reinvested funds from Johan Manzambi's sale to Aston Villa. Newly promoted Elversberg, representing a town of just 13,000 residents, will be fighting simply to stay competitive.
Despite Dortmund's improved tempo and the emergence of promising young talent across the league, most observers still expect Bayern Munich to top the table again, with the real intrigue centered on which club can most convincingly challenge them.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.