Franz Beckenbauer Supercup opens a season of upheaval as Bayern look to defend a title that may no longer come with a clear path
The Franz Beckenbauer named Supercup returns as the curtain-raiser to a Bundesliga season that looks more open than for years. Unlike some continental equivalents, this match tends to spill with intensity and personal rivalry, and it is staged at the stadium of one of the two participants, giving the home crowd an immediate sense of the real stakes.
Last season’s curtain-raiser provided a reminder of how quickly form can shift. Bayer Leverkusen previewed their success by defeating Stuttgart, with Patrik Schick striking late and the winner coming after a long period with ten men on the pitch; the final verdict came on penalties. The year before that, Bayern Munich’s new signing Harry Kane arrived with headline buzz and a flurry of acclaim, only for Dani Olmo to cap Leipzig’s night with a hat-trick that underscored how unpredictable the early weeks can be. And Guardiola, then in his Bayern tenure, never managed to lift this particular trophy.
This time around, there is a sense that a season marked by a “new name, new game” could also bring a fresh dynamic to the league. The first edition under the Beckenbauer banner carried a touch of inevitability about Bayern’s presence at the sharp end of the competition, but the atmosphere in Stuttgart suggested a league searching for new momentum beyond the familiar dominance.
The opening weekend saw Kane open Bayern’s domestic campaign with a precise finish, yet his admission that the squad currently felt “a little light, if we’re being honest” drew notable attention. The striker’s comments came amid a reshuffle that has seen some senior attacking players move on and fresh faces arrive. If the club can stabilize the balance between hunger and depth, the coming weeks will reveal how quickly they can retain their edge.
On the transfer front, Bayern are tracking a number of options as they rebuild the squad around Kane and a youthful influx. Reports connect the club with Nick Woltemade, Stuttgart’s young striker, who has drawn interest from several sides. Stuttgart’s chief executive publicly signaled confidence that the matter could be resolved, though the price tag, around a €70 million mark, has slowed progress. The broader sense is that Bayern want to inject energy and speed into their frontline while maintaining a practical count of senior forwards.
For Leverkusen, the post-Alonso era has brought a period of strategic recalibration. The club have to cope with the departures that come with a refreshed squad philosophy, and they will lean on a younger core—backed by veteran guidance—to chart their trajectory. With a sizable transfer window still open, Leverkusen are counting on a blend of academy talents and a few marquee additions to sustain their status as a challenger to Bayern’s supremacy. They will also rely on the experience of key players in midfield and defence as the team redefines its identity after Alonso’s departure.
RB Leipzig are in a similar phase of transition, appointing a new coach and recalibrating their recruitment approach. The aim is to restore European consistency and reassert the club’s reputation for youth-driven, high-energy football. New signings include several promising young players who bring pace and versatility to the squad, alongside a handful of attackers and midfielders designed to inject freshness into the system. The expectation is that Leipzig will revert to a more dynamic, Red Bull–style approach, with a focus on rapid transitions and a flexible frontline.
Dortmund enter the season with a reputation for developing elite finishers and delivering high-intensity football. A demanding pre-season schedule, partly driven by the Club World Cup obligations, cut into holiday time but also sharpened the group’s readiness. Jobe Bellingham’s arrival underscores Dortmund’s ongoing commitment to placing talent on the fastest track to top-level impact. Coach Niko Kovac must balance a demanding physical programme with the need to convert potential into consistent results over the long campaign.
Eintracht Frankfurt, meanwhile, have quietly positioned themselves as genuine dark horses. With the sale of Hugo Ekitiké looking like a calculated strategic move, the club has pursued a swift, aggressive recruitment strategy. Jonathan Burkhardt has joined as a capable forward option, giving Frankfurt a robust alternative to their existing attacking options and a platform for strengthening their Champions League push.
The Bundesliga’s two promoted clubs, Köln and Hamburg, bring big-city derbies into the top flight and immediately raise the stakes. Köln’s clash with Borussia Mönchengladbach and Hamburg’s derby with St Pauli are readied to light up early fixtures, offering a reminder that the league’s breadth and intensity extend beyond the reigning powerhouses. The second-weekend duel at the Volksparkstadion between Hamburg and St Pauli is already shaping up as one of the season’s must-watch moments.
Looking ahead, the opening weeks of the season will be crucial. A genuine challenger to Bayern’s authority remains the overarching question. The departures and arrivals across Leverkusen, Leipzig, Dortmund, and the capital of Bayern’s rivals signal a league-wide transition, with clubs betting on youth, pace, and tactical flexibility to forge a more competitive race for the Meisterschale. If Wirtz’s status as a Bundesliga talent underscores anything, it’s that the dispersion of top players across clubs could be a positive for balancing the title race, provided teams can translate potential into consistency.
What to watch for in the weeks ahead:
– Bayern’s attacking balance: Kane’s impact, the fit of new wingers, and how the team manages depth without key players.
– Leverkusen’s rebuild: how youngsters step up, what new leadership looks like, and whether the team can blend experience with youthful energy.
– Leipzig’s reboot: the approach under the new coach, and whether the club can recapture its early-twenties dynamism in a tougher European landscape.
– Dortmund’s fitness and rotation: Kovac’s approach to managing a heavy schedule while maximizing Bellingham and the rest of the forward line.
– Frankfurt’s continued capability: how Burkhardt fits, and whether their midfield and defence can sustain a European push.
– The promoted sides’ impact: Köln and Hamburg’s immediate effect on derbies and the overall quality of the league.
Summary
The Franz Beckenbauer Supercup marks the start of a season charged with change across the Bundesliga. Bayern Munich remain a central reference point, but rival clubs have reorganized, refreshed their squads, and signalled a serious intent to push the champion. With a raft of young talents stepping into prominent roles, and promoted teams adding spice with immediate derby drama, the 2025 season promises to be markedly more competitive than in recent years.
Additional comments and value adds
– For fans: look out for the early indicators of squad balance, especially Bayern’s forward lines and their ability to rotate without losing cutting edge.
– For analysts: track the impact of new coaches and how they deploy pace and pressing in a league known for high-intensity transitions.
– For bettors and fantasy players: key players to watch include Kane’s finishing form, Leverkusen’s breakout talents, and Leipzig’s creative midfielders who can influence both goals and assists.
Positive takeaway
Despite the upheaval, the Bundesliga remains a league where bold recruitment, young talent, and derby drama can redefine the season. If the new signings settle quickly and the young stars rise to the occasion, a more open race could emerge, delivering compelling football and genuine competition at the business end of the campaign.