Bayern Munich will kick off their Bundesliga campaign against VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday as coach Vincent Kompany aims to guide the club back to the top of German football.
The Bavarians, who are record German champions and the country’s wealthiest club, were dethroned last season by Bayer Leverkusen, who won the domestic league and cup double without defeat.
Former Belgium international Kompany, who replaced Thomas Tuchel has been working hard to restore order in the Bayern team and bring back confidence to his players.
Bayern spent around 100 million euros to bring in winger Michael Olise from Crystal Palace and defensive midifielder Joao Palhinha from Fulham.
They also signed defender Hiroki Ito from VfB Stuttgart to tidy up the defence that conceded goals during last season’s unimpressive run.
But Leverkusen, who have largely kept their squad intact and retained coach Xabi Alonso, will not fold their arms
The never-say-die attitude that served them so well last season was evident again on Saturday when they scored a late equaliser in the German Supercup against VfB Stuttgart before winning the title on penalties.
Leverkusen will open the Bundesliga season with Friday’s game against Borussia Moenchengladbach.
For last season’s surprise runners-up VfB Stuttgart, it will likely be a tougher ride than their previous campaign having lost to Bayern then lost top scorer Serhou Guirassy and defender Waldemar Anton to Borussia Dortmund.
Credit: Reuters
(Editor:Paul Akhagbemhe)
