Bundesliga: So What Will 2026 Bring?

We’re 15 games into the 2025-26 Bundesliga campaign, and the top of the table has a familiar look about it, as Bayern Munich leads the pack with Germany’s biggest guns making up the top four.

But with a winter break between 21^st December and the 9^th January, when a full weekend of fixtures starts off with a mouthwatering clash between Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund, this is a time for reflection, recharging, and planning for the second half of the campaign.

Super Bayern Munich are nine points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table with Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, and RB Leipzig at two, three, and four. And it will be something of a surprise if the title doesn’t return to Bavaria, as the Bundesliga 2025 betting odds certainly see it that way.

Pretty much everything has gone as planned for Vincent Kompany’s team, which looks likely to break the all-time scoring record in the Bundesliga. That record currently stands at 101 goals for the season, and after 15 games, Die Bayern have racked up an astonishing 55 strikes. The scoring sensation Harry Kane has been at his best, already bagging 19 league goals, and he’s also hit the woodwork as often as any player in the league.

Bayern have bought well over the past two years, and the addition of Colombian winger Luis Diaz was a masterstroke. He is joint-second in the race for the Golden Boot, albeit 11 goals behind Kane. Add in top assist-maker Michael Olise, and this is a truly terrifying front three.

The only troubling piece of Bundesliga 2025 news in Bavaria surrounds the future of centre-back Dayot Upamecano, who is unsettled in Munich and has been tracked by a number of clubs, including Real Madrid.

Borussia Dortmund

The latest SBOTOP odds say Niko Kovac’s BVB are the side most likely to chase down the Bavarians. While that is a long shot, Dortmund fans will be pretty happy with the way their campaign has gone so far in Germany and in the Champions League, where they are currently in 10th and with a good chance of making the top eight.

But it hasn’t all been sweetness and light at the Signal Iduna Park, and there has been some speculation around the future of star centre-back Niko Schlotterbeck. The 25-year-old joined Dortmund back in 2022, and since then, he has become one of the most accomplished defenders in Europe. And the latest rumours circulating him suggest Schlotterbeck is stalling on signing an extension to his contract, and his stance has alerted a host of Europe’s top clubs. His contract runs until 2027, and so there is unlikely to be movement in January, but the club will then need to get moving if they are to persuade their star to stay.

In the meantime, BVB have joined the race to sign Manchester City forward Oscar Bobb, who may become available if the Sky Blues sign Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth. If the Norwegian star does land on the market, Dortmund will be up against Crystal Palace in the battle for his signature.

Bayer Leverkusen

The most chaotic opening to the 2025-26 Bundesliga campaign came in Leverkusen, where new manager Erik ten Hag made a rapid exit after a disastrous start. In came former Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand, and his calm and cool persona has certainly rubbed off on his players, who have climbed up to third place, and they have certainly let their rivals know they are back and firing. Die Werkself have dumped Borussia Dortmund out of the DFB-Pokal and won convincingly in Leipzig in their last league game of 2025.

Captained by defensive midfielder Robert Andrich, this is a team pulling in the same direction, and they will certainly push BVB for the second place.

RB Leipzig

Ole Werner’s RB Leipzig is a squad full of young talent, but while they are exciting to watch, they have yet to prove they can live with the very best after finishing seventh last season. Leipzig had a nightmare start to the campaign with a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich, and they signed off for Christmas with another disaster when they entertained Bayer Leverkusen, losing 3-1. But their young stars have attracted plenty of attention, and Werner will be keen to keep them together as he strives to stay in the top four.

Ivorian winger Yan Diomande has been superb, scoring six goals in 14 games. If the 19-year-old inevitably leaves Leipzig, whenever that may be, the club will receive a chunky transfer fee. And 20-year-old centre back El Chadaille Bitshiabu is another player on the radar of the European clubs. Premier League side West Ham United are said to be very keen on Bitshiabu, who is currently back up to Willi Orban and Castello Lukeba. But they will have to pay handsomely of they are to persuade Red Bull to sell.

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