Bayern Munich kick-start their Bundesliga defence against RB Leipzig at the Allianz Arena on Friday night.
The 2025/26 Bundesliga season begins in blockbuster fashion as reigning champions Bayern Munich welcome RB Leipzig to the Allianz Arena on Friday night. Vincent Kompany’s side reclaimed their crown in emphatic style last term, while Leipzig endured one of their most disappointing campaigns since their promotion to the top flight.
After seeing their 11-year title streak ended in 2023/24, Bayern Munich bounced back strongly under Kompany last season. The Bavarians amassed 82 points, finishing 13 clear of Bayer Leverkusen, and their attacking output was historic, scoring 99 goals, their joint second-highest tally since the early 1970s. It was a statement campaign that reaffirmed Bayern’s dominance in German football.
Summer preparations, however, brought mixed fortunes. Kompany’s men were eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup, but they quickly lifted spirits by defeating Stuttgart 2-1 in the German Super Cup earlier this month. Still, Bayern’s defensive record raises concern, they have gone five competitive matches without a clean sheet, with Manuel Neuer often called upon to bail them out.
Their home form in the latter part of last season was inconsistent. Although they finished with back-to-back Allianz Arena victories, the champions had previously dropped points in three consecutive matches in front of their supporters. Kompany will hope to tighten up and deliver a convincing performance to set the tone for the new campaign.
Leipzig’s seventh-place finish last season was their lowest in nine Bundesliga campaigns and saw them miss out on European competition for the first time since 2016/17. With only 53 goals scored and 48 conceded, the Red Bulls posted their worst attacking and second-worst defensive numbers in club history, underlining the scale of the rebuild required.
Ole Werner, appointed as the new head coach, began life in the dugout with a 4-2 victory over Sandhausen in the DFB-Pokal. However, his team’s form at the end of last season was alarming: winless in five Bundesliga matches and conceding three or more goals in three of those fixtures. Even more worrying is their away record, with just three wins in their last 18 competitive outings on the road and 10 defeats in that sequence.
Leipzig’s recent history against Bayern is also discouraging. They have failed to win any of their last four encounters with the champions, losing two of them, and will need a significant improvement in both organisation and mentality to compete at the Allianz Arena. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich begin the new Bundesliga season without one of their most influential figures. Jamal Musiala has been ruled out for several months after suffering a serious ankle injury, depriving Vincent Kompany of his most creative spark in midfield.
Fortunately for the champions, there are no further major injury or suspension concerns, allowing them to field a strong side for the opening fixture against RB Leipzig. In Musiala’s absence, Michael Olise is expected to step into the central attacking midfield role, tasked with providing invention and linking the attack.
On the flanks, new signing Luis Diaz and Serge Gnabry should provide pace and directness, while Harry Kane will spearhead the line as the lone centre-forward, looking to begin his season with goals after another prolific campaign last year.
At the base of midfield, Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka are set to form the double pivot, offering control, ball progression, and defensive balance. Behind them, Kompany has already established a central defensive partnership between Jonathan Tah and Dayot Upamecano, with the two centre-backs expected to continue building their understanding.
Konrad Laimer is likely to slot in at right-back, while Josip Stanisic should feature on the left side of the defence. As always, the experienced Manuel Neuer will marshal the side from between the posts in a 4-2-3-1 system.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Stanisic; Kimmich, Goretzka; Gnabry, Olise, Diaz; Kane
RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig manager Ole Werner enters the Bundesliga opener with a largely fit squad and no fresh suspensions to worry about. However, the club will begin life without Benjamin Sesko, who departed for Manchester United earlier this month in a high-profile transfer. His absence leaves a significant gap in attack, but it also opens the door for Loïs Openda to establish himself as the focal point of Leipzig’s frontline.
In midfield, exit-linked Xavi Simons is expected to take on a central attacking role, offering creativity and direct running between the lines. He will be supported by Nicolas Seiwald and Xaver Schlager, who are likely to form the double pivot in midfield, tasked with shielding the defence and maintaining balance while also initiating attacking moves.
Wide areas could be occupied by Johan Bakayoko on the right and Antonio Nusa on the left, giving Leipzig plenty of pace and dribbling options to stretch Bayern’s backline. Defensively, Castello Lukeba and Willi Orban remain the reliable pairing at the heart of the backline, bringing both physicality and leadership.
Benjamin Henrichs is expected to be replaced at right-back by Ridle Baku, while David Raum should continue to provide his usual attacking thrust from left-back. Veteran Peter Gulacsi will retain his place in goal, anchoring a defence that must be more solid than it was last season if Leipzig are to close the gap on the top four.
Leipzig are therefore set to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Peter Gulacsi will start in goal, behind a back four of Ridle Baku, Willi Orbán, Castello Lukeba, and David Raum. Nicolas Seiwald and Xaver Schlager will form the midfield base, with Xavi Simons operating ahead of them as the attacking playmaker. Johan Bakayoko will start on the right flank, Antonio Nusa on the left, and Lois Openda will lead the line as the central striker.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Gulacsi; Baku, Orban, Lukeba, Raum; Seiwald, Schlager; Bakayoko, Simons, Nusa; Openda
Key Stats
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Bayern Munich have lost only two of their 18 Bundesliga matches against RB Leipzig (W9 D7 L2). Their most recent defeat was a 3-1 loss at home in May 2023, but in their last league meeting in December 2024, Leipzig suffered a 5-1 defeat, their joint-heaviest loss in the Bundesliga.
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Bayern Munich are unbeaten on the opening matchday of the Bundesliga for the past 23 seasons (W18, D5). The last time they lost their season opener was in 2001 against Borussia Monchengladbach. Leipzig are also unbeaten in their last 13 league openers (W11 D2), last losing an opener in 2011.
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RB Leipzig have lost only one of their last six Bundesliga games against reigning champions since the start of the 2022/23 season (W2 D3 L1). They have picked up nine points in this span, more than any other club against the title holders.
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Bayern Munich collected 82 points in 2024/25, their highest tally since 2019/20 under Hansi Flick. They lost only two league matches (W25 D7 L2), their fewest defeats in a Bundesliga season in the last eight years.
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Leipzig endured their worst Bundesliga campaign in 2024/25, finishing seventh with just 51 points, their lowest tally in nine top-flight seasons. It was also the first time since promotion in 2016 that they missed out on European competition.
Player to Watch
Luis Diaz
With Jamal Musiala sidelined through injury, Bayern Munich will look to other creative outlets to carry the attacking burden, and Luis Diaz could be the man to step up. The Colombian winger, signed this summer to add flair and penetration, offers direct running, sharp dribbling and the ability to unsettle defenders with his unpredictability in one-on-one situations.
Diaz thrives in wide areas, where his quick changes of pace and ability to cut inside onto his stronger foot create constant danger for opposition backlines. Against Leipzig’s defence, one that struggled for consistency last season, his capacity to stretch the pitch and combine with Harry Kane in central areas could prove decisive.
Beyond his individual talent, Diaz’s work rate and willingness to press high also fit seamlessly into Vincent Kompany’s tactical approach. On opening night at the Allianz Arena, he will be expected to set the tone, not only by providing width and creativity but also by contributing with the end product in front of the goal. If Bayern Munich are to start their title defence with a statement win, Luis Díaz could very well be the difference-maker.
Prediction
Bayern Munich 3-1 RB Leipzig
This is a meeting of two sides at very different stages. Bayern Munich are once again setting their sights on another title push, while RB Leipzig are searching for stability under a new coach after their most underwhelming Bundesliga campaign to date.
The Allianz Arena crowd will expect fireworks from the home side, and with attacking firepower on their side, Bayern Munich look well-placed to begin the season with a statement win. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Vincent Kompany and his charges.
