Bayern Munich were quite simply the strongest team in European football last season.
They won the three competitions that they entered and with style as well. Now with Pep Guardiola in charge, Bayern have made a couple of additions and look a good bet to repeat last season's success.
However, the team they dethroned in Germany, Borussia Dortmund, will have ambitions of their own. Here, Sports Mole provides five reasons as to why we expect the Black and Yellows to mount a serious challenge to the Bavarian giants in 2013-14.
No pressure
Outside of Dortmund, there will not be too many people who expect any captain than Bayern's Philipp Lahm to be lifting the league shield next May. With that comes a large amount of expectation, which is not always easy to deal with. Meanwhile, having been defeated on all fronts by Bayern last season, there is no real pressure on Dortmund over the coming months. It should allow them to play with an element of freedom.
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Too many cooks spoil the broth
Having added Mario Gotze (from Dortmund) and Thiago Alcantara to a squad that won the treble last term, it has made Bayern the envy of fans across the world. Is there a case for having too much of a good thing, though? Where is all that talent going to fit? The simple answer is, it won't. Guardiola will argue that it is a long season and every player will get a chance, but footballers want to play every week. What's more, top-class players have big egos that are easily dented by a spell on the bench. It could all affect what has been a tight-knit and successful group.
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Jurgen Klopp
Over the last three seasons, Klopp's stock has risen dramatically. Not only did he guide his team to two years of German domination, but he also tactically got the better of the likes of Roberto Mancini and Jose Mourinho in the Champions League. He is also the type of manager who appears to share a positive relationship with his players - they all want to produce the goods for him.
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New signings
When you go to your local supermarket, you are always on the lookout for a decent deal, aren't you? Well, a lot can be learned from Klopp's shopping this summer. A release clause meant that he was powerless when Gotze joined Bayern, but in his basket to replace the German international are Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. While you can never be certain, you would back both to go close to matching or even bettering Gotze's return of 16 goals in all competitions last season. Greek defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos is also a shrewd purchase.
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Supporters
One of football's biggest cliches describes how a set of supporters can be their team's 12th man. At times, it is a cringing thing to hear from a commentator, particularly when you could hear a pin drop inside the stadium. That is not an accusation that can be levelled at the Westfalenstadion faithful, who are among the nosiest in world football. Around 80,000 turn up every week and produce an intimidating atmosphere for the opposition. Having seen their side lose out to Bayern, the Yellow Wall will no doubt do all that they can to help their side get back to trophy-wining ways.
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Liam Apicella
