In exactly two weeks time, FC Bayern will embark on its 2021/22 Bundesliga campaign, potentially another record-breaking one and certainly a season their fans will expect to end in yet more success.
The latest Bundesliga 2021 betting odds pitch Die Bayern as red-hot favourites to make it a 10th successive title at odds of 1.15. Borussia Dortmund are at 7.90 and RB Leipzig will be at 11.50.
Die Schwarzgelben look the most likely to challenge but they will need to improve on their previous season as well as hoping the champions somehow falter.
We’ll have an idea how things will pan out in the coming months with the caveat that Bayern Munich have recently developed a habit of starting quite slowly and then powering away in the second half of the season.
Whichever way it goes, it’s going to be another fascinating campaign for fans of the Bavarians with plenty to look forward to.
So for now I’m going to make four predictions, some bolder than others, but if I get all four right I’ll be impressed!
Die Bayern will fail to win their opener
I’m happy to stick my neck out on this one for two reasons. Firstly, the opening round of fixtures often throws up some odd results and second and more importantly, the Bavarians start their campaign with a trip away to Borussia Monchengladbach.
Die Fohlen will see this as a perfect opportunity to state their intent of challenging in the top four and, at SBOTOP odds of 2.39 to draw or win, I can see Adi Hutter’s side frustrating Die Bayern.
They have achieved a positive result in 32 of the last 60 meetings with Bayern Munich, and so the hosts are not moving into unknown territory.
Die Fohlen won this fixture 3-2 last term as Jonas Hofmann scored twice and Bayern could quiet easily continue their trend of gathering momentum once the season is well underway after a stuttering start.
This defence will be the tightest in Germany
Bayern’s determination to win a 10th successive Bundesliga is likely to centre on a prolific attack and midfield, but they will leave nothing to chance and have already made a big signing in defence.
Last term, four teams conceded fewer goals than Bayern’s 44 as the champions’ backline spent plenty of time supporting its attack, with advancing wingbacks Alphonso Davies and Benjamin Pavard raiding down either wing.
Sule is a colossus and he is rejoined by his old Hoffenheim boss Julian Nagelsmann, and to have a player of the quality of Upamecano alongside him will only make the Bayern backline more imposing. The 22-year-old new recruit joins seven other Frenchmen in the Bayern squad.
And behind those two, the ever-dependable 35-year-old keeper Manuel Neuer is still one of the best in the business.
Nagelsmann will do the double over both Leipzig and Hoffenheim
The new head coach still only 34 made his name at 1899 Hoffenheim where he took over at the age of 28, making him the youngest head coach in Bundesliga history.
His appointment in February 2016, at a point in the season when the club looked doomed to relegation, was an inspired move as Hoffenheim won seven of their last 14 games to survive.
The following season, he led them to fourth place and Champions League football and, in 2019, he was poached by RB Leipzig.
Hoffenheim have been treading water since his departure and Bayern Munich will be too strong for them. And while the Red Bulls will hope to challenge, Nagelsmann is a brilliant tactician who knows the Leipzig club inside out.
Lewandowski will score 30+ again
The only reason this may by a brave prediction is that there are still whispers that FC Bayern’s most prolific goalscorer could be looking for a new challenge.
Keep an eye on the Bundesliga 2021 updates over the next couple of weeks and if it all goes quiet for Lewandowski, then expect him to rip up the Bundesliga for the eighth successive season.
He bagged a colossal 41 goals in the 2020/21 campaign and has accumulated 203 goals in 219 games. So if he doesn’t make his way to Real Madrid or Manchester City, we can reasonably expect another Golden Boot for the lethal Pole.
Bayern Munich president Herbert Haimer has said that Lewandowski will definitely see out his contract in Munich, so I guess we can count on that one!
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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