Bayern Munich initiates a daring test against Bayer, pushing boundaries.
The Bundesliga season is kicking off, and FC Bayern isn't part of the opening games. This means that they've been out of the title-defending role for a while now. Currently, Bayer Leverkusen holds the title, and their team seems even more formidable. In response, FC Bayern is bringing out a daring strategy.
Out of nowhere, Vincent Kompany emerged as the new coach. This unexpected move sent shockwaves through the football world. Names of potential candidates had been tossed around, only to be rejected. Many have faded into oblivion, but Ralf Rangnick and Julian Nagelsmann were not among them.
Kompany is now in charge, and while it's not a "grand" solution, it's certainly an intriguing one. He may not have extensive coaching experience, having come from the rollercoaster club FC Burnley. However, FC Bayern is hopeful that Kompany can replicate the success Bayer 04 Leverkusen had under Xabi Alonso last season. The career paths of the two are quite similar. Like Alonso, Kompany was a top-notch player and also learned under renowned coach Pep Guardiola. Guardiola is still admired in Munich, and his guidance was reportedly sought before Kompany was appointed.
FC Bayern is aiming to regain control of the power dynamics this season and make a comeback to the national and international top. The Champions League final this year is in Munich, and they're hoping to overcome the trauma of the 2012 final loss to Chelsea at home. For now, they're still waiting in the wings. They couldn't participate in the DFL Supercup as they failed to win the league or the DFB-Pokal, both of which went to Leverkusen. Consequently, Leverkusen's opening game is against Borussia Mönchengladbach, not FC Bayern.
Major overhaul at FC Bayern
This setback was a painful blow to the record champion. Thomas Tuchel, who had been causing unrest within the club, took on more criticism from Uli Hoeneß. It was a show of frustration. Hoeneß does not let offensive behavior slip by when it comes to his FC Bayern. The unofficial control center of FC Bayern is still located about 50 kilometers south of Munich, on the western shore of Lake Tegern. Despite lacking an official powerful position, Hoeneß made a lot of noise in the trainer theater, even temporarily halting the squad rebuild. He was the one who announced the decision of the supervisory board that the busy sports director Max Eberl must sell before bringing in more top players alongside João Palhinha, Michael Olise, and Hiroki Ito.
This summer, FC Bayern's engine room underwent a considerable makeover, a rarity in recent times. Old parts have been repaired - Joshua Kimmich is likely to be back in the center permanently, and Thomas Müller can run and press like in his prime - and expensive external components have been added. They are meant to provide the aging giant with the lost stability.
The legendary Thomas Müller and captain Manuel Neuer are racing towards the end of their illustrious careers. They've already retired from the national team, and their club contracts expire at the end of the season. However, for now, it's full steam ahead. This new machine is intended to push FC Bayern to their limits - and past Bayer Leverkusen. Their first-ever championship, which disrupted Munich's "eternity series," should remain a one-off blip and not permanently alter the power dynamics.
Just one loss for Bayer, but it's a bitter pill to swallow
Bayer had an flawless domestic season, losing no games. Unfortunately, their only loss in any competitive match came in the Europa League final against Atalanta Bergamo (0:3). In German football, the last team to defeat Bayer was VfL Bochum. Key to that victory was Kevin Stöger's assist and goal, who then moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach after a challenging yet successful relegation battle. Gladbach is now Bayer's opening opponent (20:30 CET, live on DAZN and ntv.de).
A Gladbach victory would definitely be a shocking result. While Gladbach aims to improve following a disastrous season, it remains to be seen if they have what it takes to beat Leverkusen. Alonso's men haven't forgotten how to turn games around in the final minutes, as Stuttgart found out in the DFL Supercup. Despite being a man down, Bayer's pressure only increased, and their squad even strengthened in the summer. Aleix García joined as Alonso's desired player for the center, joining Granit Xhaka, Robert Andrich, and World Cup winner Exequiel Palacios. Jean-Clair Todibo, a 19-year-old talent, could soon become a regular starter in defense. Offensively, they added Marin Pongracic, a versatile player whose debut ended prematurely because of a red card.
In this aggressive game, Alonso brought on Florian Wirtz, Alejandro Grimaldo, Jeremie Frimpong, and fit Patrik Schick late, who should have an exciting duel with Victor Boniface up front. With a man down, Stuttgart was squeezed and caught off guard late, showcasing Bayer's impressive performance. While Alonso didn't explicitly mention Munich, he did acknowledge that his squad has become even stronger.
This season's title race isn't strictly a two-horse race, it seems. While it might seem implausible for VfB Stuttgart to replicate their second-place finish after losing key players Serhou Guirassy, Waldemar Anton, and Hiroki Ito, the Swabians are still kicking up a storm on the pitch. Their football is bold, aggressive, and intimidating to every opponent. However, a top-tier central defender could certainly strengthen their well-equipped squad. Jeff Chabot, a new arrival from relegated 1.FC Köln, now leads the defense, but for the long and demanding competitions, that may not be sufficient. Fortunately, Chris Fuhrich, a highly sought-after winger, stayed put, and fan favorite Deniz Undav was signed permanently. Several players from the club's own ranks, such as Angelo Stiller, have also shown significant improvement, possibly earning him a spot in the national team after Toni Kroos' retirement.
Dortmund has faced changes as well. Coach Edin Terzić stepped down after the Champions League final loss, and his assistant Nuri Şahin took over, bringing in some big-name reinforcements. Notably, Niklas Süle joined the club. Despite having a questionable record of consistency, Süle impressed with his honesty and fitness, pleasing club boss Hans-Joachim Watzke. Other key additions include DFB veteran Pascal Groß to bolster the midfield, DFB stalwart Waldemar Anton to reinforce the defense, and DFB prospect Maximilian Beier to boost the offense. However, Dortmund's biggest new signing, Serhou Guirassy, arrives with injury issues, keeping him out for an extended period. With popular Niclas Füllkrug leaving, Sébastien Haller still not at his best, and Youssoufa Moukoko reportedly set to move on, Dorthmund's options seem limited beyond Beier.
They expect a lot out of Dortmund, despite losing Mats Hummels and Marco Reus. Julian Brandt is expected to shine as the number 10, while talents like Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Julien Duranville are encouraged to step up and establish themselves at the national level.
As for RB Leipzig, the question remains: will this be the season they finally claim their first championship? Despite losing Dani Olmo to Barcelona for a substantial transfer fee, they find solace in the knowledge that Olmo's injuries limited his impact. Meanwhile, Xavi Simons, who impressed as a PSG loanee, is opting to stay. Other notable new signings include Norwegian offensive prodigy Antonio Nusa and DFB prospect Assan Ouedraogo. The duo cost the club a combined 31 million euros. New goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt was also signed to potentially take over as number one.
Their squad is brimming with talent and quality. Apart from Olmo, no key player departed. In fact, with Lois Openda and Benjamin Sesko leading the attack, they have a lethal striking duo with immense potential. Players like Castello Lukeba, Mohamed Simakan, or Nicolas Seiwald have massive growth potential. The squad is also backed by established players like Willi Orban, David Raum, Benjamin Henrichs, Xaver Schlager, or Christoph Baumgartner. Whether this is enough for the championship? They'll need to prove it first. However, the first major headline of the new season should belong to FC Bayern and Thomas Müller. Thomas Müller is set to play his 709th competitive game for Munich, cementing his place as the sole record player of the record champions. The (last?) chase toward Thomas Müller and Co. begins.
Given the context of the text, here are the two sentences that contain the words 'Football league' and follow logically from the provided text:
- Despite the setback, FC Bayern is still aiming to regain control of the power dynamics in the Football league this season.
- FC Bayern's goal is to push past Bayer Leverkusen and reclaim the title in the Football league by the end of the season.
