Bundesliga: Red Bull Test for the Champions

Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig

Bayern Munich open their Bundesliga title defence on Friday night with a mouthwatering clash against one of their closest rivals, as RB Leipzig rock up at the Allianz Arena.

Vincent Kompany led the Bavarians to the 2024-25 title in his first season at the helm, though Bayern’s performance in Europe and the DFB-Pokal were less than impressive. RB Leipzig, meanwhile, missed out on European qualification for the first time since they reached the top-flight in 2016, and new head coach Ole Werner is the man tasked with bringing some success back to the club.

Both teams come into the match on the back of a win. Bayern beat 2025 cup winners VfB Stuttgart to win the DFL Supercup, while RB Leipzig won their 2025-26 DFB Pokal tie away to Sandhausen.

This promises to be a superb contest to open the new Bundesliga season, and there will be plenty of new faces on show. So, let’s take a closer look at the two teams and then make a call.

 

Talking Points

Diaz is at home in Munich

It hasn’t been the easiest of transfer windows for Kompany, as he missed out on the chance to sign Florian Wirtz, who went to Liverpool. But things have started to come together in recent weeks.

Colombian winger Luis Diaz dominated the Bundesliga 2025 news when he made a £65 million move from Liverpool to Munich. He follows on from Harry Kane and Michael Olise as big names to move from the Premier League, and at first sight, it looks like he may well become as successful as the first two.

He scored the crucial second goal in the 2-1 win over Stuttgart, finding space to head home a cross from Serge Gnabry. The 28-year-old scored 29 goals in 103 games for Liverpool, and the way he ghosted in to score in the Supercup was an indication of how dangerous he can be. His main assets are his pace and trickery, and he can shoot with both feet, as well as using his head, of course, and Diaz already looks at home in Bavaria.

Another exciting signing was the recruitment of 20-year-old midfielder Tom Bischof from Hoffenheim. Already a full Germany international, we featured Bischof in our SBOTOP report on the young guns ready to light up the top-flight this year. And, able to play either through the middle or out wide, the former TSG man gives Kompany plenty of options.

 

Red Bull’s summer spree

It has been a busy summer in the transfer market in Leipzig with the big news last week that striker Benjamin Sesko has joined Manchester United for a whopping €76.5 million. The club has raised another €10 million from the sale of squad players, including the experienced strike pair of Yussuf Poulsen and Andre Silva. Meanwhile, Ole Werner has overseen an inflow of players at a cost of over €110 million with an emphasis on the team’s creative unit.

Romulo Cardoso has arrived from Goztepe for €20 million, with left and right wingers Yan Diomande and Johan Bakayoko joining for a combined fee of €38 million . Attacking midfielder Andrija Maksimovic has transferred from Red Star Belgrade for €14 million, while Werner has also picked up a defencive midfielder, the highly-rated Belgian international Arthur Vermeeren in a €20 million move from Atletico Madrid.

With the likes of Lois Openda and Xavi Simons still at the club, though the transfer window is still wide open, and midfield ace Christoph Baumgartner in the ranks, this is a talented squad. After a seventh-place finish last term, the Bundesliga 2025 betting odds back Red Bull to finish in the top four this season, and Werner’s team will give the defending champions a stiff examination on Friday night.

 

History

In terms of head-to-head meetings, over the past three campaigns, the honours have been shared with two wins for each club and two draws.

Last season, the two teams played out a 3-3 draw in Leipzig in the title run-in, but over in Munich, Bayern delivered a 5-1 thumping to Red Bull in December.

 

Betting Tip

In a two-horse race, the Bavarians are red-hot favourites at odds of 1.19 to win this opener, with the draw at 6.48 and an RB Leipzig way out at 9.77.

Yes, Bayern have the resources and the history, and a brilliant new signing in Diaz. But RB Leipzig have a point to prove after a disappointing campaign, and I believe they will be a potential threat this season starting on Friday.

   

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