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da luck： On the whole, the Bundesliga is a competitive league. For example, in the past seven seasons, eight different sides have qualified for the Champions League – from the top five divisions in Europe, only La Liga have more, with nine. Despite general proximity in regards to the quality of 17 of the 18 teams in Germany’s top-tier over that period, Bayern Munich have reigned supreme. However, their period of dominance could be about to end.
The 2018-19 campaign marked the seventh year in a row in which Bayern Munich have been crowned league champions. During six of those, the smallest margin of victory was 10 points. In other words, no-one could get close to the Bavarian machine.
Last term, however, was nowhere near as clear cut. Yes, Bayern still lifted the Bundesliga trophy, but this time they only ended up two points clear of their nearest challengers, Borussia Dortmund. Die Schwarzgelben had even led their rivals for much of the 34 matchdays, but the relative inexperience of their squad ended up being their downfall. Still, the title race went right down to the wire, with the outcome only decided on the final day.
Robert Lewandowski has been given a new contract at Bayern but is he finished? A Bayern fan discusses in the video below…
Lucien Favre’s team will know they wasted a huge opportunity last season, but they have not rested on their laurels as they attempt to bridge that now smallest of gaps. They have been decisive in the transfer market, and have plugged the holes that needed to be filled. Nico Schulz has come in at left-back, whilst Thorgan Hazard and Julian Brandt, two of the league’s most impressive performers last season, should add more firepower to an already frightening attack.
The most important arrival of all, however, may well be Mats Hummels’ return to the Signa-Iduna Park. Quite why Bayern chose to help out a direct rival by selling him to them remains a mystery. The one thing BVB lacked last term was experience, especially in defence – only Omer Toprak of the available centre-backs was over 24. Hummels, meanwhile, is now 30 and has won almost everything in the game, including the World Cup. His emotional attachment to the club is strong, and all of those around him should benefit from his mental strength. Add on to that the fact all of their younger players are another year older and wiser, and Jadon Sancho and co should be able to hold their nerve this time around.
Niko Kovac’s team, however, have struggled to bring in the players they need, and have not replaced those who have left. So far, only Lucas Hernandez, whose best position is as of yet unclear, Benjamin Pavard, who did little to stop Stuttgart from getting relegated last season, and youngster Jann-Fiete Arp have come in at the Allianz Arena. A winger has been the main objective, but they have so far failed miserably. Callum Hudson-Odoi is expected to sign a new contract at Chelsea, Bayern’s bullish pursuit of Leroy Sane continues.
They have lost inspirational figures in Arjen Robben and Frank Ribery and, whilst Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry can provide offensively, they will inevitably struggle to strike fear into their opponents as their predecessors did. We are, after all, talking about two of the greatest talents of their era who lifted the Champions League title together in 2013.
It is not only Dortmund that Bayern have to worry about either. RB Leipzig have once again gone about their business impressively this summer. Not only have they managed to keep hold of talisman Timo Werner – who bagged 16 goals and 7 assists last season – but they have also brought in Christopher Nkunku and Ademola Lookman, young players who have a lot to prove.
The signs of the champions’ wane are already there. Last season, they failed to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2011, and it wasn’t just the result of their Round of 16 defeat to Liverpool that will have worried the hierarchy. Their second-leg performance at home, which they lost 3-1, was far too easy for their opponents. The Reds managed more shots and more shots on target, doing so with less possession.
There is also about to be a changing of the guard at the very top. Uli Hoeneß will soon retire and has confirmed that he will not re-run as president of the club in November. The former West Germany international is part of the fabric at Bayern, having served there in one capacity or another since 1970, and he will still be a big loss and will need to be replaced correctly.
It has been an extended period of success for Munich, and they should be celebrated for being able to remain almost untouched for so long. But the fat lady may soon be about to take centre stage. Dortmund and Leipzig look ready to pounce as Bayern’s era of dominance is set to come to its unceremonious end.
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