Who can challenge Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga title?
Having romped to the 2025/26 Bundesliga title, Bayern Munich remain the team to beat ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. But who will be looking to challenge them for the Meisterschale this time around? Here are the other contenders for the crown…
Borussia Dortmund
Position last season: 2nd
Positives to take from 2025/26:
While Dortmund were never really close to toppling Bayern at the summit, they were clearly the best of the rest, ultimately finishing eight points ahead of RB Leipzig in third. In Niko Kovač’s first full season in charge, BVB were defensively solid, conceding a league-low 34 goals, while only VfB Stuttgart and the title winners scored more than their tally of 70.
Dortmund's total of 73 points was their highest since 2018/19, and they lost just two of their first 28 Bundesliga fixtures, both of which came against Bayern. In both outings versus the Bavarians, Dortmund tested their opponents until the final whistle, and they will be convinced they can build on those showings over the coming 10 months.
Watch: Borussia Dortmund return to training
Why they can do better this time:
Kovač now has another campaign under his belt, allowing him to further perfect the system that has made the Black-Yellows so hard to beat. He can also call upon several impressive youngsters to boost a squad that is already full of talent, with the likes of Samuele Inácio and Luca Reggiani set to build on their strong performances towards the end of last season.
Others, such as Gregor Kobel and Julian Ryerson, will return to the squad on the back of strong performances at the FIFA World Cup, and Serhou Guirassy remains a prolific striker and focal point in attack. The foundations of success are clearly there at Signal Iduna Park, and there will be a belief that there is still plenty more for Dortmund to achieve.
RB Leipzig
Position last season: 3rd
Positives to take from 2025/26:
After failing to even qualify for European football two years ago, Leipzig returned to the continent’s top table as they booked their place in the UEFA Champions League. They registered their joint-highest total of Bundesliga wins (20), demonstrating resilience in doing so by recovering from an opening-day 6-0 defeat to Bayern.
The likes of Christoph Baumgartner and David Raum came to the fore, Yan Diomande broke onto the scene with a fantastic campaign, while other youngsters such as Assan Ouédraogo and Antonio Nusa grew into the team and clearly have bright futures ahead of them. There were ups and downs along the way, but eight wins from their opening 10 games show they can go on impressive runs.
Watch: Every Ouédraogo goal and assist in 2025/26
Why they can do better this time:
Despite a third-placed finish, Leipzig have decided to replace Ole Werner with Martín Demichelis as head coach, underscoring their ambition and hunger for success. The former Bayern player, who has also previously led the Bayern reserves from the dugout, knows all about the Munich-based club’s winning mentality and now has the opportunity to instil it into a group of players who already have talent.
Having had last season to bed in, Rômulo and Conrad Harder should now be fully adapted to the demands of the Bundesliga and ready to provide the goals from centre-forward that Leipzig lacked last season. And in Maxime Estève, they have added a promising defender to boost a backline that already features Castello Lukeba and Willi Orbán.
Watch: Martín Demichelis arrives in Leipzig
VfB Stuttgart
Position last season: 4th
Positives to take from 2025/26:
Stuttgart further consolidated their position as one of the Bundesliga's leading clubs last term, qualifying for the Champions League for the second time in three seasons. They also reached a second successive DFB Cup final - further proof that they can compete for trophies on a regular basis.
Only Harry Kane scored more Bundesliga goals than Deniz Undav’s 19 across the campaign, while his tally was also the most of any player across Europe’s top five leagues. Their overall displays were underlined by the fact that eight players who played for the club last year were selected to represent their countries at the World Cup, with the likes of Bilal El Khannouss and Jamie Leweling moving up to the next level.
Watch: Every Undav goal in 2025/26
Why they can do better this time:
So far this summer, Stuttgart have held on to all their key players outside of Alexander Nübel – who returned to Bayern after three years on loan before joining Beşiktaş permanenlty - which will allow them to really build on what they have already achieved. That includes El Khannouss, following his permanent transfer from Leicester City, while Bundesliga stalwart Grischa Prömel has arrived to add extra strength to the midfield.
The biggest boost for Stuttgart, though, is that Sebastian Hoeneß remains as head coach, as they have exhibited constant progress on his watch. The 44-year-old has done an incredible job since arriving in 2023, transforming the Swabians from relegation candidates into DFB Cup winners and Champions League participants.
Bayer Leverkusen
Position last season: 6th
Positives to take from 2025/26:
It was undoubtedly a difficult season for Leverkusen last term, as they dropped out of the top four just two years after winning their maiden Bundesliga title. However, wins over Dortmund, Leipzig (twice) and Manchester City across the campaign showed they can still compete against the best on their day.
Patrik Schick remains a fantastic finisher, netting 16 times in 28 league games, while signings such as Ibrahim Maza and Christian Kofane showed glimpses of their obvious ability. At times, Leverkusen looked like a real unit, but the instability of seeing a head coach replaced within the opening two matchdays was something they never fully recovered from.
Watch: Carles Martínez's introduction as Bayer Leverkusen head coach
Why they can do better this time:
The Werkself enter the new season with Carles Martínez in the dugout following the departure of Kasper Hjulmand. Having spent much of his coaching career working at youth level, including four years at Barcelona’s famed La Masia, he has plenty of experience in developing exciting players, which makes him an ideal fit for this Leverkusen side.
The club signed more than 15 players last summer, and amidst the squad’s transformation, many struggled to settle in. With a season under their belts, they should be more comfortable in their surroundings, and this window has been far less busy.
Still, Leverkusen have brought in quality in Kennet Eichhorn, Afonso Moreira and Kerim Alajbegović, who should provide extra competition in a team hungry to show they have what it takes to compete for a top-four finish at the very least.
