Bayern Munich enters the upcoming Bundesliga season as the overwhelming favorite to defend its championship title. It’s hardly a surprise, given that the club won by 13 points last season over clubs that arguably got worse over the summer.
Bayern Leverkusen is one of those clubs, finishing as runners-up last season. The loss of midfielder Florian Wirtz and the manager Xabi Alonso has led sportsbooks to make Die Werkself a longshot to compete with their rival for this year’s league title. However, an active offseason has seen the club reload, and we’re impressed with what we’ve seen.
Below, we’ll share three reasons why we are adding Bayern Leverkusen to our soccer picks for the upcoming season.
Club Brings in New Boss Erik ten Hag
One of the most significant losses for Bayern Leverkusen this summer was manager Xabi Alonso. He guided the club to its first Bundesliga title since 1993 two seasons ago, but has now moved on to join Real Madrid. His loss will be felt, but we love the player Die Werkself has replaced him with.
The club hired former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag. He was fired by the English Premier League powerhouse in 2024, but not before delivering EFL Cup and FA Cup titles. While the end of his tenure saw the club’s struggles increasing, it seems clear that the once-great club’s problems run far deeper than the manager position.
The Dutch manager was with Ajax before joining Manchester United. He posted a stellar 158-28-29 record, winning the Eredivisie three times. Erik ten Hag has a 61.95% winning percentage over his career, and we think that number will continue to rise with Die Werkself.
Malik Tillman Replaces Wirtz
The biggest reason experts are doubting Bayern Leverkusen is the loss of Florian Wirtz. The star led the club in assists while scoring the second-most goals. This highlights his central role in the attack and the significant impact his departure will have on the club.
The club took a big step towards replacing Wirtz’s production when it signed American star Malik Tillman. The 23-year-old was a promising prospect for Bayern Munich, but the club didn’t have much room for him. This led to him being loaned out to Rangers and PSV, with his contract eventually being purchased by the latter.
Tillman is still young but is now developing into the player Munich hoped he would eventually become. While his inexperience playing in a major league is concerning, he has looked impressive for the USMNT on the international stage. With a new veteran manager, Bayern Leverkusen should give him an excellent chance to keep growing.
In addition to his growing talent, Tillman was actually born in Germany. He played for the country’s national junior teams growing up, but ultimately decided to play for the US to start his senior career. That will resonate with the fanbase and could lead to the young star becoming the cornerstone of this Bundesliga franchise.
Front Office Not Done Yet
The signing of Tillman was a massive win for Die Werkself, but they don’t seem to be done quite yet. The club has been rumored to be in the chase to sign several young stars, including Johan Bakayoko. The club was the favorite to sign the winger, though it now seems he may opt for RB Leipzig instead.
While losing out on Bakayoko hurts, we love that the club’s front office is continuing to add talent. The focus on younger stars that can contribute immediately shows that the club isn’t interested in wasting a season or two on a rebuild. As a result, we expect more moves to be made as the season’s start quickly approaches.
If Bayern Leverkusen doesn’t make another move before the window closes, count on them to once again be aggressive when it reopens in a few months. As long as the club can stay close to the top of the Bundesliga table, we expect them to spare no expense to secure their second title in four years.
