The 2023-2024 season of the German Football League begins tomorrow, Friday, and Bayern Munich seeks to win its twelfth title in a row, and avoid the scenario of last season, which it decided with great difficulty in the last moments of its closing match.
The title was in the grip of Borussia Dortmund, until the last seconds of the final round matches, before it turned to Bayern Munich in an exciting scenario, after the two teams had equal points.
Bayern won in the last minute at Cologne 2-1, while Borussia Dortmund drew 2-2 at home to Mainz, to secure the first coronation after its superiority by goal difference only over the second, after the two teams were equal in total points, with a total of 71 points each.
Dortmund needed to beat Mainz in order to win the Bundesliga title for the first time since 2012, but it tied in a dramatic way, to gift Bayern Munich its 11th consecutive title in the domestic league, and the 32nd in the new title of the “Bundesliga” tournament, and the 33rd in the German League in general.
Bayern is expected to face competition this season from Borussia Dortmund and Leipzig, in addition to Union Berlin, which is participating in the Champions League for the first time, and Bayer Leverkusen, led by Spanish coach Xabi Alonso.
Below we review the top 5 players who are expected to shine in the German Bundesliga in the 2023-2024 season.
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
The curtain has fallen on a long series of speculations about the arrival of England captain Harry Kane to Bayern this summer from Tottenham with a big deal.
After a long career at the North London club, in which he scored 280 goals in 435 matches, Kane (30 years old) moved to the German champions without winning any trophies with club or country.
“I wanted to play at the highest level,” Kane said after arriving in Germany. “I fight for titles every season.”
There is no room for rest .. Harry Kane is ready! 💪
Watch the best shots from Harry Kane’s first training session with Bayern: https://t.co/85b7TBVswy 🎥#mia_san_mia pic.twitter.com/lKOsmOvcSj
– Bayern Munich (@FCBayernAr) August 14, 2023
The spearhead could do just that with the Bavarian side, who have won at least one title in every season of the past decade.
His way of playing may also suit coach Thomas Tuchel’s squad, which lacks a spearhead, since the departure of his historic scorer Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona last season.
Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund)
Midfielder Julian Brandt has lived up to the expectations placed on him with Borussia Dortmund.
Brandt was the creative flame when Dortmund achieved ten victories in a row in early 2023, to put himself on the track to compete for the title with Bayern.
The 27-year-old won the Player of the Month award twice in a row, before he was injured during the 2-0 loss against Chelsea in London, after which the yellow team sank into the quagmire of fluctuating results.
With the departure of young English midfielder Jude Bellingham and Portuguese full-back Rafael Guerrero this summer, Dortmund will be in dire need of Brandt’s creative glimpses, in the task of limiting Bayern’s sweeping control.
Dani Olmo (Leipzig)
With the loss of his stars this summer, such as French striker Christopher Nkunku, Austrian midfielder Konrad Leimer, Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol, and Hungarian attacking midfielder Dominic Suboslay, preserving Spaniard Dani Olmo was extremely important to Leipzig.
Leipzig extended Olmo’s contract until June 2027, and he quickly returned the favor after scoring a wonderful hat-trick against Bayern (3-0), during the German Super Cup, last Saturday.
It is true that Leipzig made weighty contracts, but maintaining Olmo, who has a stable performance, was a requirement for the Red Bull Arena fans aspiring for the first title in the Bundesliga.
Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen)
Swiss Granit Xhaka, the former captain of Arsenal, returned to the Bundesliga after 7 years in north London, signing with Bayer Leverkusen.
The 30-year-old, who carried the colors of Borussia Monchengladbach between 2012 and 2016, adds important experience to a young squad led by Spanish coach Xabi Alonso, after he led Switzerland to the knockout stages in the recent European Cup and the Qatar World Cup.
Leverkusen reached the semi-finals of the Europa League, and seemed inspired to fight for a fourth place in the Champions League (finishing sixth), under the leadership of Alonso.
With two FA Cup titles on his record with Arsenal, Xhaka may also help his new team untie its knot with titles.
David Datro Fofana (Union Berlin)
One of the most interesting additions to the Bundesliga has been striker Davide Datro Fofana, after joining Union Berlin from Chelsea on loan.
The 20-year-old scored 24 goals with 65 appearances for his Norwegian club Molde, contributing to the local cup title, before moving to Chelsea last January.
And while the defense of the German capital team was the strongest last season (38 goals, equally with Bayern), it relied heavily offensively on Surinamese Sheraldo Becker in the front line, which makes Fofana a practical addition to the team, which is participating for the first time in its history in the Champions League, after its fourth place. Last season behind Bayern, Dortmund and Leipzig.
