Bundesliga Opener: FC Bayern host VfB Stuttgart in season curtain-raiser

Muslic is relying on the ÖFB legionnaires Maximilian Wöber, Dejan Ljubicic and Junior Adamu, who are aiming for survival with the Royal Blues. At promoted side Elversberg, Austrian goalkeeper Nicolas Kristof is also part of the squad, looking to prove himself in Germany's top flight.

As for the new Bayern squad, the roles in attack remain clearly defined. Attacking talents such as Michael Olise, Luis Diaz and Aleksandar Pavlovic are expected to shape the Munich forward line. In defence, Dayot Upamecano is a fixture – and delivered important impulses on opening night as well.

What is new since 28 August

What is new since 28 August

Since the previous report, three points in particular have become concrete: Miron Muslic's explicit title prediction, the details of Bayern's third goal by Joshua Kimmich and Alphonso Davies, and the kick-off time of 20:32. These updates complement the picture of the season opener sketched earlier.

Miron Muslic said with a view to the title race: „Leverkusen und Dortmund werden sehr nahe dran sein, aber Meister wird für mich wieder Bayern München." In doing so, the Schalke coach once again positions the record champions as favourites – even if, from his perspective, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund will be closing in fast.

Title Race and Promoted Sides in Focus

For Munich's third goal, Joshua Kimmich initiated the attack by playing Alphonso Davies in down the right. Davies' cross was then deflected into his own net by Stuttgart's Josha Vagnoman, unluckily, after slipping on the wet turf. Individual quality and the tricky pitch conditions thus decided the moment in favour of the hosts.

It was also confirmed that the kick-off time for the opening match is precisely 20:32 – a fact that had only been communicated as a time window in earlier preview coverage.

Significance for the New Season

Title Race and Promoted Sides in Focus

The new Bundesliga season stands under the sign of an expected changing of the guard – or confirmation at the top. While Bayern, according to Muslic's prediction, are again to set the standard, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund count among the chasers who could trouble the Munich side.

With the promoted sides from Gelsenkirchen and Elversberg, two traditional clubs also return to the top flight, expected to provide fresh impulses. Schalke coach Muslic stressed that he wants to cope with everyday league life with his team „genauso wie Aufsteiger Elversberg" – a signal of the ambition to be part of the conversation among the big clubs.

Significance for the New Season

The opening match traditionally serves as a barometer of mood for the entire season. A clear home win for Bayern against Stuttgart would underline their role as favourites; a surprise from the Swabians, on the other hand, could quickly generate excitement in the title race.

With an eye on the transfer window, the new signings carry weight: while in Munich established attacking players around Olise, Diaz and Pavlovic form the forward line, the promoted sides from Gelsenkirchen and Elversberg rely on well-drilled axes from within their own squads.

Ultimately, the season will show whether Munich's dominance endures or whether the challengers from Leverkusen and Dortmund can mount a serious title push this time. The opener against VfB Stuttgart gives a first indication.

Separately, the Baltic Sea littoral states announced the establishment of a task force against hybrid threats on the fringes of the matchday – a political signal that, although not directly linked to the league's start, was picked up in the same news cycle.