Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund locked at the top in tightest title race in years
After nine matchdays of the 2026/27 campaign, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are locked on 21 points at the top of the Bundesliga table, making it the tightest title race in years. The Bavarians may be top dogs after winning back-to-back Meisterschale, but BVB’s form so far suggests they could be the team to topple them.
While Bayern have not matched the pace they set last year, when they won each of their opening nine games, they remain unbeaten and have regularly impressed, including in their 7-0 win over Union Berlin and their 6-1 triumph against RB Leipzig.
Nevertheless, unlike in previous seasons, Dortmund have been able to keep pace with the record champions so far. Their 21-point haul is their highest since the 2013/14 campaign, while they have surpassed that tally at this point of a campaign on just two occasions this century.
Watch: Bayern Munich 7-0 Union Berlin - highlights
As such, the title race is on, with only a superior goal difference keeping Bayern’s noses in front. It is already much tighter than it was at this stage last term, when Vincent Kompany’s men had already opened a five-point gap over Leipzig.
Such a close battle at the top of the table is a rarity over the longer term, too – the last time two sides were level on points after nine games apiece was in 2017/18, when Bayern and Dortmund had 20 points each.
On that occasion, Dortmund had the better goal difference, but they couldn't stay consistent throughout the campaign. In the end, Bayern won the title by 21 points ahead of Schalke, with the Black-Yellows ultimately finishing 29 points behind the Munich outfit.
This Dortmund side, though, is a tough nut to crack under Niko Kovač. Last season’s return of 73 points was their best since 2018/19, and their defence is currently the best in the country, illustrated by the fact they conceded fewer than every side in the Bundesliga in 2025/26 and also lead the way in that regard this term.
Speaking on the title race following Dortmund’s latest victory, a 2-1 defeat of Elversberg, managing director Lars Ricken said: “To be unbeaten after nine matchdays, level on points with the league leaders, 21 points; nobody can take that away from us. And we want to build on that."
Things are not only close at the very top, either: the competition for a top-four spot is also captivating. Freiburg, in third, are just two points below the top two, while Leipzig are a point further back in fourth. For context, the 2019/20 season was the last time there was only a couple of points’ difference between first and third.
Watch: Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Elversberg - highlights
How the rest of the term will play out is anyone’s guess. Nevertheless, this promises to be a close-run thing and is already developing into a race that you can’t take your eyes off.
