The 2025-26 Bundesliga season will get underway when Bayern Munich lock horns with RB Leipzig at the Allianz Arena on Friday night.
After being dethroned by Bayer Leverkusen in the 2023-24 campaign, Bayern Munich restored natural order last season by cruising their way to a record-extending 34th German top-flight crown.
Vincent Kompany’s side have since got their hands on more silverware, winning the German Super Cup with a 2-1 win over VfB Stuttgart last Saturday.
The Bavarians will be looking to carry that momentum into their Bundesliga curtain-raiser with RB Leipzig on Friday night.
The Red Bulls placed seventh in last season’s German top-flight, missing out on continental football for the first time in almost a decade.
Manager Marco Rose was moved on towards the tail end of last season, with Ole Werner chosen to usher in a new era at the Red Bull Arena.
How the bookies view it: Bayern to start with a bang
It’s no surprise to see Bayern Munich priced up as heavy favourites on Friday night, with a home success as short as 2/9 with Boylesports.
RB Leipzig are as big as 15/2 on Boylesports to hit the ground running while a share of the Allianz Arena spoils is also considered unlikely at 5/1 with the same firm.
Head to head: Bayern tend to boss it
Bayern Munich have triumphed in 12 of the overall 22 meetings between the pair, with Leipzig claiming just three wins while the other seven encounters have ended all square.
Bayern Munich ran out 5-1 winners in last season’s corresponding fixture and another home success alongside BTTS on Friday night will bring about an attractive 13/10 shot on Boylesports.
Players to watch: Kane to make his mark?
Harry Kane’s goal helped me deliver a clean sweep of winners last weekend but he is too short to side with here as a single selection. However, bundling up a Bayern Munich win alongside a Kane goal will engineer an eye-catching 5/6 play on Boylesports.
RB Leipzig will look to Lois Openda for inspiration on Friday night. The Belgian international made the net bulge nine times across his 33 Bundesliga appearances last season.
Predicted line-ups
Bayern Munich boss Kompany will have to make do without long-term absentees Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala while Konrad Lamier is rated as doubtful for this clash.
New RB Leipzig manager Werner will be unable to call upon the services of injured duo Benjamin Henrichs and Tidiam Gomis on matchday one.
Bayern Munich: Neuer; Stanisic, Tah, Upamecano, Laimer; Goretzka, Kimmich; Diaz, Gnabry, Olise; Kane
RB Leipzig: Vandevoordt; Nedeljkovic, Lukeba, Orban, Raum; Nusa, Schlager, Vermeeren, Simons; Bakayoko, Openda
Anything else catch the eye?
It would be fair to say that the departure of Benjamin Sesko leaves a huge hole for RB Leipzig to fill in attack.
With the aforementioned Openda therefore expected to spearhead the Red Bulls frontline on Friday night, the Belgian forward holds plenty of appeal to register a minimum of one shot on target at 17/20 on UniBet.
It’s worth noting that Openda was averaging 1.21 on-target efforts per 90 in last season’s Bundesliga.
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