Bayern Munich will welcome RB Leipzig in the opening game of the 2025-26 Bundesliga season at the Allianz Arena on Friday.
Vincent Kompany’s side reclaimed the Bundesliga title last season, finishing 13 points clear of Bayer Leverkusen, whereas Leipzig finished seventh in the league.
The Bavarian giants are heading into this match on the back of a 2-1 win against VfB Stuttgart in the German Super Cup last week.
Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig: preview
Leroy Sane, Eric Dier, and Thomas Muller left Bayern following the end of their contracts.
Mathys Tel joined Tottenham Hotspur permanently, while Kingsley Coman and Adam Aznou moved to Al-Nassr and Everton on permanent deals.
Joao Palhinha also moved to Spurs on loan, while Bryan Zaragoza and Tarek Buchmann also left on temporary deals.
Luis Diaz arrived from Liverpool on a big-money deal, while Jonathan Tah and Tom Bischof joined from Bayer Leverkusen and TSG Hoffenheim.
Bayern participated in the Club World Cup during the summer, where they were eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-final.
Leipzig sold their talisman striker, Benjamin Sesko, to Manchester United, while Yussuf Poulsen and Andre Silva also left the club to join Hamburger and Elche respectively.
There could be one more high-profile departure with Xavi Simons being linked with a move to Chelsea this summer.
The Red Bulls bolstered their midfield by signing Arthur Vermeeren from Atletico Madrid.
They added Brazilian forward Romulu, while Yan Diomande and Johan Bakayoko have added depth and quality in their wing areas.
Bayern Munich form: W
RB Leipzig form: W
Team News
Bayern’s dazzling creative forward Jamal Musiala is sidelined for months after he picked up a horror ankle injury during the Club World clash against PSG.
Serge Gnabry is expected to feature regularly after Coman’s departure, while Diaz is more or less a guaranteed starter.
Harry Kane will be looking to replicate his last season’s form. In defence, Jonathan Tah has forged a strong partnership alongside Dayot Upamecano.
Simons is still a part of the side, and the 22-year-old is expected to start against Bayern, which could be his final game for Leipzig.
Bayern Munich predicted starting lineup: Neuer; Boey, Upamecano, Tah, Stanisic; Kimmich, Goretzka; Gnabry, Olise, Diaz; Kane.
RB Leipzig predicted starting lineup: Gulacsi; Baku, Orban, Lukeba, Raum; Seiwald, Schlager; Bakayoko, Xavi, Nusa; Openda.
Prediction: Bayern Munich 2-1 RB Leipzig.
