Preview:Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig - prediction, team news, lineups

In the opening game of the 2025-26 Bundesliga season, champions Bayern Munich will welcome RB Leipzig to Allianz Arena on Friday.

Vincent Kompany was able to reclaim the Bavarians' top-flight crown last term, ranking 13 points ahead of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, but Leipzig's seventh-placed finish meant they failed to qualify for Europe for the first time in nine seasons.

Match preview

Bayern's failure to win the title in 2023-24 ended a streak of 11 consecutive first-placed finishes, but under Kompany last season they totalled 82 points - 10 more than in the prior campaign - and dethroned Leverkusen at the first time of asking.

The Bavarians enjoyed a historic season in the final third, with their return of 99 league goals the joint second most they have scored since 1972-73.

Kompany's club has experienced mixed success over the summer having been eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-final of the Club World Cup in July, but they enter the new campaign as winners of the German Super Cup following their 2-1 victory against Stuttgart on August 16.

The Bundesliga champions did face a number of high-quality chances in the Super Cup final, with goalkeeper Manuel Neuer forced to make four saves across the game.

Bayern have not kept a clean sheet in any of their past five competitive matches, a period that saw them lose twice and win three times, and they ended the 2024-25 season with four victories from five fixtures.

Kompany's side were inconsistent at home in the closing stages of 2024-25, as while they won their last two outings at Allianz Arena, they were beaten in two and drew one of their prior four games at the stadium.

Leipzig's final points total of 51 was 14 fewer than they managed in 2023-24, and was also the fewest they had collected in any of their nine top-flight seasons.

Die Roten Bullen scored 53 goals and conceded on 48 occasions in the league, the club's worst offensive and second-worst defensive returns in their Bundesliga history.

Ole Werner took charge of his first competitive game as boss on August 16, guiding his side to a 4-2 victory against Sandhausen in the first round of the DFB-Pokal.

The visitors' record against Bayern in the last two campaigns is poor, with the team failing to win any of their four most recent clashes while suffering losses two times.

Leipzig failed to win any of their final five games of 2024-25, settling for three stalemates and conceding at least three goals on three occasions.

Werner must address his team's performances on the road if he is to succeed at the club considering they only triumphed in three of their last 18 competitive outings away from home, succumbing to defeat in 10 of those fixtures.

Bayern Munich form:

RB Leipzig form:

Team News

Bayern Munich creator Jamal Musiala will be sidelined for months due to a serious ankle issue, and his absence means that Michael Olise is set to start in a number 10 role.

Forwards Luis Diaz and Serge Gnabry can also be expected to feature, with number nine Harry Kane hoping to open his account.

Centre-back signing Jonathan Tah has already formed an understanding with Dayot Upamecano, and the duo will almost certainly be stationed behind Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka.

Following Leipzig's sale of striker Benjamin Sesko to Manchester United earlier this month, Lois Openda has become the leading candidate to start up front.

Xavi Simons could be moved into an attacking midfield role, supported by Nicolas Seiwald and Xaver Schlager.

Castello Lukeba and Willi Orban have been regulars in the visitors' backline for some time, and the central defenders will almost certainly be selected.

Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:

Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Stanisic; Kimmich, Goretzka; Gnabry, Olise, Diaz; Kane

RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:

Gulacsi; Baku, Orban, Lukeba, Raum; Seiwald, Schlager; Bakayoko, Xavi, Nusa; Openda

We say: Bayern Munich 3-1 RB Leipzig

Neither side are likely to be at their best on the opening matchday, and it would not be surprising if both teams found their way onto the scoresheet.

Despite losing Musiala to injury, Bayern still boast a phenomenal array of attacking talent, and their forward line could be too much to overcome for RB Leipzig.

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