FC Bayern is German champion again

After a year away from the championship, FC Bayern Munich is back on the throne of German football. It's been about twelve months since Bayer Leverkusen achieved the first unbeaten season in Bundesliga history and won the German championship for the first time in the 2023/24 season. One year later, a 3-3 draw at RB Leipzig and a Leverkusen draw with SC Freiburg were enough for Bayern to restore the balance of power in German football on matchday 32.

Bayern Munich are German champions – and that's a familiar sight for football fans. The German record champions have won twelve of the last 13 domestic titles. The ease of this year's success almost makes one forget the turmoil the club was in at the end of last season. First, Thomas Tuchel resigned as coach, then a string of preferred candidates, such as Xabi Alonso (Leverkusen) and Ralf Rangnick (Austria), withdrew. So how did FC Bayern make it back to the top of German football? And what's next?

Kompany as a stabilizer

It's an open secret that Bayern coach Vincent Kompany wasn't the record champions' first choice. Kompany himself was aware of this. Before taking over at Munich, the Belgian had been relegated from the Premier League with Burnley and had no experience managing a top team. A good start in the Bundesliga was therefore crucial to silencing critical voices. Under Kompany, Bayern have tightened up defensively and developed an effective attacking concept. The result: 13 games without defeat at the start of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season.

Perhaps the former world-class central defender has impressed most off the pitch, however. The job at Bayern comes with considerable internal and external pressure, which Kompany seems to handle with aplomb. He presents a positive image both in his dealings with the media and with the players, for example, when Leon Goretzka was unhappy at the start of the season.

New momentum from the Premier League

Few players move from the English Premier League to the Bundesliga. However, Bayern Munich have broken the pattern with the signings of Harry Kane (arrived from Tottenham) last season and Michael Olise (Crystal Palace) this season. Kane's prodigious goalscoring record is well documented, but it's worth highlighting again: In April, he scored his 60th Bundesliga goal in 60 games, averaging one goal per game. In less than two seasons, he has already scored against every club in the Bundesliga .

But even Harry Kane isn't a one-man showman. He needs support from the wings, which he sorely lacked last season. The signing of Michael Olise solved this problem. Compared to Bayern's other wingers, Olise may be a little slower, but he's significantly more creative and crafty, adding a new dimension to the record champions' attack. The numbers speak for themselves: With 13 assists, he's the most in the Bundesliga so far. By comparison, no Bayern player managed more than eleven last season.

Leverkusen is weakening

The second matchday already set the tone for the rest of the season. Leverkusen squandered a two-goal lead and lost to RB Leipzig. Coach Xabi Alonso 's team was dominant but lacked determination, falling behind early in the title race to Bayern, a position they were unable to overcome despite the many games remaining. Although Leverkusen lost only once more after this defeat (the same number as Bayern), they drew a third of their games – too often to defend their title.

The outstanding previous season makes this season seem like a step backward for the Werkself. At least Leverkusen hasn't managed to win close games through individual efforts or late goals. Furthermore, there are fears that the team's absolute gem, Florian Wirtz , will leave the club this summer. Should Wirtz decide to move to FC Bayern, the 2023/24 season could indeed seem like a one-off blip in Bayern Munich's seemingly eternal dominance.

Bavaria strong across the board

The potential signing of Wirtz would give Kompany even more options in an already well-stocked squad. Bayern had to make frequent changes in defense due to injuries to Dayot Upamecano, Alphonso Davies, and Hiroki Ito. Jamal Musiala's muscle fiber tear at the beginning of April was also a major loss in the creative attacking area. Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry, as well as goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, have missed important parts of the season. Kompany has subsequently integrated Leon Goretzka back into the team, even though before he took over it looked as if the German international had no future at Munich. The rotations in midfield, partly due to injuries, have largely worked out well.

Neuer's goal-scoring injury gave 21-year-old Jonas Urbig the chance to prove himself in goal for the record champions, which could prove to be an advantage in the long run. Neuer will turn 40 next year. With Thomas Müller leaving the club after the Club World Cup in June and July, Kompany must prepare for a future without two important, long-standing pillars of the club. But that can wait. First, FC Bayern will celebrate its 34th Bundesliga title, and Müller his 13th.