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Bayern Munich have dominated the Bundesliga in the last decade, winning nine titles on the trot. The challenge for other teams will be to close the gap this season.
Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are two teams expected to push Bayern Munich in the 2021-22 campaign. Unlike previous seasons, there is a lot more anticipation this time owing to a summer of transition across most top clubs.
While Bayern Munich have a new manager in Julian Nagelsmann, RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund too have changed head coaches over the summer.
The race for the top four isn’t given in the Bundesliga, and that will be interesting as well. So without further ado, here are five predictions for the 2021-22 Bundesliga season.
#5 Jesse Marsch’s Leipzig will leave fans salivating for more
RB Leipzig were Bayern Munich’s closest competitors last season, and like Bayern Munich tend to do, the Bavarians have roped in Julian Nagelsmann from their direct rivals.
The East Germans, however, have managed to hire another talented coach in Jesse Marsch. Signed from their sister club Red Bull Salzburg, he will want to leave a mark straight away.
Marsch’s Salzburg side were pretty much untouchable in the Austrian Bundesliga in the last couple of seasons as they achieved back-to-back league and cup doubles.
Salzburg also played some proactive and pressing football, and Leipzig are expected to do the same in the Bundesliga. Marsch’s side will be the ones to watch in the Bundesliga next campaign, and we expect them to push Bayern Munich for the title.
#4 Borussia Monchengladbach to finish in the top four
Borussia Monchengladbach are another team that will have a new manager in Adi Hutter. Like Jesse Marsch, Hutter considerable success in the Austrian Bundesliga before moving to the German top-flight.
Hutter’s Eintracht Frankfurt nearly finished in the top four last season and played some high-intensity football. Hutter brought the best out of Adrian Silva last year and the Gladbach fans will hope he can do the same with the talented forwards at Borussia Park.
Borussia Monchengladbach were rather inconsistent last year under Marco Rose, but fans can expect them to be a well-oiled unit who will attack with verve this season. Having failed to crack the top four with Eintracht Frankfurt last season, Hutter will lead Monchengladbach to a top four finish this season.
#3 Robert Lewandowski to win the golden boot again
Robert Lewandowski was on fire last season and we expect the Bayern Munich star to keep banging in the goals again this year.
Bayern have changed their coach, but it’s unlikely their playing style will differ too much. Nagelsmann used several players in the number nine role at Leipzig, but Lewandowski will be the automatic starter in that position.
Lewandowski has won four successive golden boots in the Bundesliga and will look to make it five in a row. Last season, the Polish forward broke Gerd Muller’s incredible record of 40 goals in a season. Lewandowski will hope to match the German's record of seven gold boot awards.
#2 Young players to shine in the Bundesliga after a quiet transfer window
Bundesliga sides aren’t known for spending a lot of money, and the financial implications of COVID-19 have made it even harder to do business this summer.
The German top-flight has been a breeding ground for some of the top young players in Europe, and we expect that to continue this season.
Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have two of the most talented young players in Jamal Musiala and Youssoufa Moukoko, and they will get more minutes this season.
Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig have Florian Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai, and the latter will be among the players to watch out for after being reunited with former Red Bull Salzburg coach Jesse Marsch.
#1 Bayern Munich’s quality will see them make it ten in a row
Bayern Munich haven’t let their standards slip in the last nine seasons, and even in some difficult circumstances, they have always managed to come out on top.
The managerial merry-go round in the Bundesliga could make things interesting in the first few months as the sides try to acclimatize to new styles. But when the dust settles, expect Bayern Munich to come out on top.
The Bavarians have lost two top quality centre-backs in Jerome Boateng and David Alaba, but signed an able replacement in Dayot Upamecano.
Bayern haven’t made any new attacking additions, but as mentioned before, expect Jamal Musiala to play a bigger role in the Bundesliga next season.
