Guide to the Bundesliga 2025/26: betting tips, favorites, and details about the championship

The Bundesliga 2025/26 is about to begin, and expectations are running high in the world of Sports Betting. The opening whistle is set for August 22, 2025, with the finale scheduled for May 16, 2026. This season brings Bayern Munich as the favorite, exciting transfer market moves, and strong title contenders.

If you’re a football fan keeping an eye on the competition, this guide will give you the full outlook for the season: who the favorites are, the best strategies, and how to take advantage of opportunities responsibly. Keep reading and discover how to bet on the Bundesliga responsibly!

Overview of the Bundesliga 2025/2026

The 2025/26 Bundesliga season promises to be one of the most competitive in recent years. With 18 clubs facing off in a league format, the battle will stay tense until the very last match. The championship will decide relegation battles, playoffs, and the race for UEFA Champions League spots. Here are the key details:

Important dates and format

The new Bundesliga season kicks off on August 22 with 18 clubs competing over 34 rounds in a league format. Two teams will be directly relegated, and the 16th-placed side will play a playoff against the third-placed team of the 2. Bundesliga. After the winter break, the season resumes for a decisive run-in that promises thrills until the end.

Promotions and relegations

Promoted to the top flight this season: Hamburger SV (after seven years away) and 1. FC Köln (after one year of absence). They replace Holstein Kiel and VfL Bochum.

Defending champion vs. emerging favorites

Bayern Munich returns (or continues) as the main favorite, especially after reclaiming the title in 2024/25. However, competition is fierce this year; Leverkusen and Dortmund are among the top challengers. Additionally, emerging teams like Stuttgart and Freiburg could cause surprises.

Augsburg

For 11 straight years stuck in the lower half of the table, Augsburg had a season of stability, far from relegation danger — they finished 14 points ahead of Heidenheim, who played the survival playoffs. However, a run of four straight defeats at the end cost coach Jess Thorup his job, replaced by former striker Sandro Wagner.

With mixed preseason results and a rookie coach, the Fuggerstädter head into 2025/26 aiming for survival. With budget-friendly signings, the team will try to finish in the top half for the first time in 11 years.

Manager

Sandro Wagner

Last Season

12th place

Best Finish

5th (2014/15)

Key Signings

Chrislain Matsima (Defender): Bought from Monaco for €5M

Cédric Zesiger (Defender): Bought from Wolfsburg for €4M

Han-Noah Massengo (Midfielder): Bought from Burnley for €3M

Elias Saad (Left Winger): Bought from St. Pauli for €2M

Robin Fellhauer (Midfielder): Bought from Elversberg for €700K

Key Departures

Felix Uduokhai (Defender): Sold to Besiktas for €5M

Dion Beljo (Striker): Sold to Dinamo Zagreb for €4M

Fredrik Jensen (Attacking Midfielder): Free transfer to Aris Thessaloniki

Irvin Cardona (Striker): Sold to Saint-Étienne for €2.5M

Henri Koudossou (Right Back): Loaned to Nuremberg

Expectation

Augsburg will start their 14th consecutive Bundesliga season battling for survival. The Fuggerstädter have odds of 4.5 to be relegated, making them the third most likely team to drop — tied with Köln and Hamburg. In other words, the possibility of playing the playoff against the 3rd-placed side from the 2. Bundesliga is very real.

Bayer Leverkusen

After winning the Bundesliga and German Cup unbeaten, Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen couldn’t keep their form and finished 13 points behind Bayern Munich.

If the Werkself kept their squad after the title, that was not the case by the end of 2024/25. Erik ten Hag arrives to replace the Spanish coach, who joined Real Madrid, while stars like Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Jonathan Tah departed — generating over €229.5M in sales. The big question is whether the massive overhaul will work out.

Manager

Erik ten Hag

Last Season

2nd place

Titles

1 (2023/24)

Key Signings

Jarell Quansah (Defender): Bought from Liverpool for €35M

Malik Tillman (Attacking Midfielder): Bought from PSV Eindhoven for €35M

Loïc Badé (Defender): Bought from Sevilla for €25M

Claudio Echeverri (Attacking Midfielder): Loaned from Manchester City

Ibrahim Maza (Attacking Midfielder): Bought from Hertha Berlin for €12M

Key Departures

Florian Wirtz (Attacking Midfielder): Sold to Liverpool for €125M

Jeremie Frimpong (Right Back): Sold to Liverpool for €40M

Jonathan Tah (Defender): Sold to Bayern Munich for €2M

Odilon Kossounou (Defender): Sold to Atalanta for €20M

Amine Adli (Left Winger): Sold to Bournemouth for €21M

Expectation

Despite extensive changes in squad and staff, Bayer Leverkusen will start the season as Bayern Munich’s main challenger for the title. Odds of 8.0 suggest it will be tough to topple the Bavarians — although the same was said about the Werkself two years ago, when they went on to win the Bundesliga unbeaten.

Bayern Munich

Bayern spent just one year away from the top of the Bundesliga. Backed by young coach Vincent Kompany, the Bavarians had another standout campaign and saw striker Harry Kane lift the first trophy of his career.

The Munich side parted ways with long-serving players like forward Thomas Müller, right winger Leroy Sané, and left winger Kingsley Coman. Meanwhile, reinforcements have been fewer, with center-back Jonathan Tah and left winger Luis Díaz arriving to add even more quality to an already star-studded squad.

Manager

Vincent Kompany

Last Season

1st place

Titles

34 (1932, 1968/69, 1971/72, 1972/73, 1973/74, 1979/80, 1980/81, 1984/85, 1985/86, 1986/87, 1988/89, 1989/90, 1993/94, 1996/97, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2007/08, 2009/10, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, and 2024/25)

Key Signings

Luis Díaz (Left Winger): Bought from Liverpool for €70M

Tom Bischof (Midfielder): Bought from Hoffenheim for €300K

Jonathan Tah (Defender): Bought from Bayer Leverkusen for €2M

Key Departures

Thomas Müller (Forward): Free transfer after contract expired

Mathys Tel (Striker): Sold to Tottenham for €35M

Leroy Sané (Right Winger): Free transfer to Galatasaray

João Palhinha (Midfielder): Loaned to Tottenham

Kingsley Coman (Left Winger): Sold to Al-Nassr for €25M

Paul Wanner (Attacking Midfielder): Sold to PSV Eindhoven for €15M

Expectation

As the dominant force in German football, Bayern always enters as the title favorite. The reigning champions begin the season strongly favored, with odds of 1.29 to lift their 35th Bundesliga trophy.

Borussia Dortmund

After finishing runners-up in Europe, Borussia Dortmund placed their bet on former midfielder Nuri Sahin to lead the team — and it didn’t work out. After the Turk was dismissed, Die Schwarzgelben brought in Niko Kovač to save the season, and the former Bayern and Eintracht Frankfurt boss managed to guide the team to fourth place.

However, Signal Iduna Park has yet to see many reinforcements for 2025/26. Aside from signing midfielder Jobe Bellingham and finalizing the permanent deal for right back Yan Couto, Dortmund still hasn’t replaced left winger Jamie Gittens. This timid approach in the transfer market could cost them higher ambitions.

Manager

Niko Kovač

Last Season

4th place

Titles

8 (1956, 1957, 1963, 1994/95, 1995/96, 2001/02, 2010/11, and 2011/12)

Key Signings

Jobe Bellingham (Midfielder): Bought from Sunderland for €30.5M

Yan Couto (Right Back): Bought from Manchester City for €20M

Daniel Svensson (Left Back): Bought from Nordsjaelland for €6.5M

Patrick Drewes (Goalkeeper): Bought from Bochum for €200K

Key Departures

Jamie Gittens (Left Winger): Sold to Chelsea for €56M

Youssoufa Moukoko (Striker): Sold to Copenhagen for €5M

Soumaïla Coulibaly (Defender): Sold to Strasbourg for €7.5M

Diant Ramaj (Goalkeeper): Loaned to Heidenheim

Sébastien Haller (Striker): Free transfer to Utrecht

Expectation

Borussia Dortmund is one of the teams with the best chances to dethrone Bayern Munich, with odds of 10.0 to win the title, the third-highest. Die Schwarzgelben are highly unlikely to miss out on the Champions League, with odds of 1.3 to finish in the top four.

Borussia Mönchengladbach

Manager Gerardo Seonane begins his third season in charge of Borussia Mönchengladbach with the goal of continuing to progress. Finishing 10th with 45 points, the team climbed four places and enters the new season aiming for stability.

Despite dreaming of a return to continental football, Die Fohlen were rather quiet in the summer window. Without big investments, the team will heavily rely on reinforcements Shuto Machino and Jens Castrop to be more competitive.

Manager

Gerardo Seonane

Last Season

10th place

Titles

5 (1969/70, 1970/71, 1974/75, 1975/76, and 1976/77)

Key Signings

Shuto Machino (Striker): Bought from Holstein Kiel for €8M

Jens Castrop (Midfielder): Bought from Nuremberg for €4.5M

Kevin Diks (Right Back): Free transfer from Copenhagen

Haris Tabakovic (Striker): Loaned from Hoffenheim

Key Departures

Ko Itakura (Defender): Sold to Ajax for €10.5M

Alassane Pléa (Striker): Sold to PSV Eindhoven for €4.5M

Tomas Cvancara (Striker): Loaned to Antalyaspor

Stefan Lainer (Right Back): Free transfer to Red Bull Salzburg

Yvandro Borges Sanches (Left Winger): Sold to Heracles for €500K

Expectation

Still far from reviving past glories, Die Fohlen should remain mid-table. Returning to UEFA competitions after six years is the more realistic goal, with odds of 4.5 to finish in the top six — ranking them eighth. However, they should be cautious about relegation risk, with odds of 6.0 to drop to the 2. Bundesliga after 18 years, making them the seventh most threatened team.

Eintracht Frankfurt

After winning the Europa League in 2021/22, Eintracht Frankfurt has been on the rise and is back at the top tier of UEFA football. Led by Dino Toppmöller, the team finished third and comfortably secured a Champions League spot.

Die Adler start the season aiming to threaten Bayern’s dominance, although they finished 22 points behind. Reinvesting the €95M paid by Liverpool for striker Hugo Ekitiké, Frankfurt wisely added names like Jonathan Burkardt and Ritsu Doan to raise their level.

Manager

Dino Toppmöller

Last Season

3rd place

Titles

5 (1969/70, 1970/71, 1974/75, 1975/76, and 1976/77)

Key Signings

Jonathan Burkardt (Striker): Bought from Mainz for €21M

Ritsu Doan (Right Winger): Bought from Freiburg for €21M

Rasmus Kristensen (Right Back): Bought from Leeds United for €6M

Michael Zetterer (Goalkeeper): Bought from Werder Bremen for €5M

Love Arrhov (Attacking Midfielder): Bought from IF Brommapojkarna for €4.6M

Key Departures

Hugo Ekitiké (Striker): Sold to Liverpool for €95M

Tuta (Defender): Sold to Al-Duhail for €15M

Paxten Aaronson (Attacking Midfielder): Sold to Colorado Rapids for €7M

Igor Matanovic (Striker): Sold to Freiburg for €6.7M

Kevin Trapp (Goalkeeper): Sold to Paris FC for €1M

Expectation

Winning the Bundesliga after 49 years remains unlikely, with odds of 51.0 making Die Adler the fifth contender in line. Fighting to stay in the Champions League for a second consecutive season is a more realistic goal, with odds of 3.5 to finish in the top four — suggesting they may need to settle for the Europa League.

Freiburg

Freiburg changed managers after twelve years under Christian Streich and had a strong season with Julian Schuster, finishing fifth and qualifying for the Europa League — their fifth continental competition since returning to the top flight.

Balancing a larger calendar with Bundesliga duties will be key, but the Europa-Park Stadion faithful have reasons for optimism. Despite limited financial power, the club added midfielder Yuito Suzuki, right winger Cyriaque Irié, and striker Igor Matanovic — though it remains to be seen if selling right winger Ritsu Doan to Eintracht Frankfurt will hurt them.

Manager

Julian Schuster

Last Season

5th place

Best Finish

3rd (1994/95)

Key Signings

Yuito Suzuki (Attacking Midfielder): Bought from Bröndby for €10M

Cyriaque Irié (Right Winger): Bought from Troyes for €8.5M

Igor Matanovic (Striker): Bought from Eintracht Frankfurt for €6.7M

Philipp Treu (Right Back): Bought from St. Pauli for €5.5M

Derry Scherhant (Left Winger): Bought from Hertha Berlin for €2M

Key Departures

Ritsu Doan (Right Winger): Sold to Eintracht Frankfurt for €21M

Kiliann Sildillia (Right Back): Sold to PSV Eindhoven for €5.8M

Robert Wagner (Midfielder): Loaned to Holstein Kiel

Michael Gregoritsch (Striker): Sold to Bröndby for €1.5M

Florent Muslija (Attacking Midfielder): Loaned to Fortuna Düsseldorf

Expectation

Steady in the Bundesliga, Freiburg is not yet ready to fight for a historic title: odds of 101.0 place the Breisgau-Brasilianer behind seven other teams. Remaining in UEFA competitions is a more realistic target, with odds of 8.0 to finish top four — ranking sixth most likely — making at least a Conference League spot a reasonable ambition.

Hamburg

After seven years of heartbreak and struggles in the 2. Bundesliga, Hamburg is finally back in the top flight. Coach Merlin Polzin let the title slip away by just two points, but promotion was a huge relief for a club that has suffered so much in recent seasons.

With limited financial power and modest reinforcements, Der Dino will need to fight hard to make sure their Bundesliga stay isn’t short. After all, a preseason of four defeats and only two wins raises alarm bells — and tradition alone won’t win matches.

Manager

Merlin Polzin

Last Season

5th place

Titles

6 (1923, 1928, 1960, 1978/79, 1981/82, and 1982/83)

Key Signings

Nicolás Capaldo (Midfielder): Bought from Red Bull Salzburg for €2.1M

Yussuf Poulsen (Striker): Bought from Red Bull Leipzig for €1M

Jordan Torunarigha (Defender): Free transfer from Gent

Rayan Philippe (Right Winger): Bought from Eintracht Braunschweig for €2.5M

Nicolai Remberg (Midfielder): Bought from Holstein Kiel for €2.4M

Key Departures

Ludovit Reis (Midfielder): Sold to Club Brugge for €6M

Davie Selke (Striker): Free transfer to Istanbul Basaksehir

Lucas Perrin (Defender): Free transfer to Sporting de Gijón

Lukasz Poreba (Midfielder): Loaned to Elversberg

Sebastian Schonlau (Defender): Sold to Vancouver Whitecaps for €150K

Expectation

Back in the top flight, Hamburg should have a season similar to their last five Bundesliga campaigns: fighting for survival. Odds of 4.5 place Der Dino as the third most likely team to go down — tied with Augsburg and Cologne in playoff chances. Returning to international competitions after 19 years looks tough, with odds of 10.0 ranking the traditional club behind 12 others in the race for the top six.

Heidenheim

Despite the excitement of reaching a UEFA competition for the first time, Heidenheim didn’t have the season they had hoped for. Poor in the Conference League, the Blau-Rot had to rely on the playoffs to stay up — and they barely made it, as Leo Scienza scored the decisive goal in the 95th minute of the second leg against Elversberg.

Coach Frank Schmidt, who guided the team from the fourth division all the way to the Bundesliga, now faces concerns over limited transfer activity. Youngsters like midfielder Nick Rothweiler, defender Adam Kölle, and left winger Yannik Wagner were promoted from the academy, but the lack of experienced reinforcements may hold the team back.

Manager

Frank Schmidt

Last Season

16th place

Best Finish

8th (2023/24)

Key Signings

Diant Ramaj (Goalkeeper): Loaned from Borussia Dortmund

Arijon Ibrahimovic (Attacking Midfielder): Loaned from Bayern Munich

Key Departures

Vitus Eicher (Goalkeeper): Released after contract expired

Christopher Negele (Left Winger): Free transfer to SpVgg Unterhaching

Norman Theuerkauf (Midfielder): Retired

Expectation

It’s difficult to expect a positive season for Heidenheim: the team is the favorite for relegation with odds of 2.0. The Blau-Rot may dream of repeating the feat of 2023/24 and reaching UEFA competitions, but odds of 30.0 show just how unlikely that mission will be.

Hoffenheim

Only three points separated Hoffenheim from the relegation playoff. Despite celebrating their 17th consecutive year in the top flight, the team disappointed in a season where they also played in the Europa League — and crashed out in the league stage.

Christian Ilzer remains in charge after steadying the team, and preseason results looked promising: eight wins in warm-up matches. Despite selling midfielder Anton Stach, the club brought in some interesting free transfers and should have a more comfortable season.

Manager

Christian Ilzer

Last Season

15th place

Best Finish

3rd (1917/18)

Key Signings

Koki Machida (Defender): Bought from Union Saint-Gilloise for €4.75M

Leon Avdullahu (Midfielder): Bought from Basel for €8M

Bernardo (Defender): Free transfer from Bochum

Tim Lemperle (Striker): Free transfer from Cologne

Vladimír Coufal (Right Back): Free transfer from West Ham

Key Departures

Tom Bischof (Midfielder): Sold to Bayern Munich for €300K

Anton Stach (Midfielder): Sold to Leeds United for €20M

Joshua Quarshie (Defender): Sold to Southampton for €3.5M

Haris Tabakovic (Striker): Loaned to Borussia Mönchengladbach

Erencan Yardımcı (Striker): Loaned to Eintracht Braunschweig TSV

Expectation

After last season’s struggles, Hoffenheim should have a calmer year: odds of 7.0 for relegation rank the Rhein-Neckar-Arena club behind 11 others for the drop. Returning to UEFA competitions is possible but difficult, with odds of 7.0 placing them only 10th in that race.

Cologne

Second division champions with two points more than Hamburg, traditional Cologne begins the season under new management: Lukas Kwasniok arrives after a solid stint at Paderborn.

Without the financial strength of the bigger clubs, Die Geißböcke signed low-cost players from lesser-known teams. Defender Rav van den Berg, striker Ragnar Ache, and midfielder Ísak Jóhannesson headline a squad that impressed in preseason: four wins and a draw, including a 4-0 thrashing of Atalanta.

Manager

Lukas Kwasniok

Last Season

1st place in 2. Bundesliga

Titles

3 (1961/62, 1963/64, and 1977/78)

Key Signings

Rav van den Berg (Defender): Bought from Middlesbrough for €8M

Ragnar Ache (Striker): Bought from Kaiserslautern for €4.5M

Ísak Jóhannesson (Midfielder): Bought from Fortuna Düsseldorf for €5.5M

Jakub Kaminski (Left Winger): Loaned from Wolfsburg

Tom Krauß (Midfielder): Loaned from Mainz

Key Departures

Damion Downs (Striker): Sold to Southampton for €8M

Tim Lemperle (Striker): Free transfer to Hoffenheim

Dejan Ljubicic (Midfielder): Free transfer to Dinamo Zagreb

Max Finkgräfe (Left Back): Sold to Red Bull Leipzig for €4M

Rasmus Carstensen (Right Back): Loaned to Aarhus

Expectation

After winning the second division for the fifth time, Die Geißböcke should be fighting for survival. Relegation odds of 4.5 match those of Augsburg and Hamburg, placing the trio even in playoff likelihood. Returning to UEFA competitions after three years will be tough, as 13 teams have better chances than their 8.5 odds.

Mainz

Danish coach Bo Henriksen brought Mainz back to European competition after nine years: despite fading late in the season, the Karnevalsverein secured a Conference League spot — finishing just eight points behind fourth-placed Borussia Dortmund.

The sale of striker Jonathan Burkardt to Eintracht Frankfurt could hurt, but keeping the starting XI intact is good news. The real test will be whether the tighter schedule causes issues, though preseason showed a team on the rise.

Manager

Bo Henriksen

Last Season

6th place

Best Finish

5th (2010/11)

Key Signings

Benedict Hollerbach (Striker): Bought from Union Berlin for €10M

Sota Kawasaki (Midfielder): Loaned from Kyoto Sanga

Kasey Bos (Left Back): Bought from Melbourne Victory for €500K

Konstantin Schopp (Defender): Free transfer from Sturm Graz

Key Departures

Jonathan Burkardt (Striker): Sold to Eintracht Frankfurt for €21M

Ludovic Ajorque (Striker): Sold to Stade Brestois for €2M

Tom Krauß (Midfielder): Loaned to Cologne

Hyun-seok Hong (Attacking Midfielder): Loaned to Nantes

Edimilson Fernandes (Midfielder): Sold to Young Boys for €600K

Expectation

Excited to play in the Conference League, Mainz is unlikely to take a bigger leap: odds of 4.5 to finish in the top six put them behind nine teams. On the bright side, relegation odds of 6.0 place them safely ahead of nine rivals.

Red Bull Leipzig

It was Red Bull Leipzig’s worst Bundesliga season since their promotion, leaving them just one point short of the Conference League. After a shaky start under Marco Rose, Zsolt Löw tried to steady the team, but a five-match winless streak at the end sealed their fate.

That’s why there’s a new man in charge: 37-year-old Ole Werner, who left Werder Bremen after a similar campaign. The sale of striker Benjamin Sesko to Manchester United for €76.5M was a huge blow, but the club’s transfer activity shows a team hungry to bounce back.

Manager

Ole Werner

Last Season

7th place

Best Finish

2nd (2016/17 and 2020/21)

Key Signings

Johan Bakayoko (Right Winger): Bought from PSV Eindhoven for €18M

Arthur Vermeeren (Midfielder): Bought from Atlético Madrid for €20M

Yan Diomande (Left Winger): Bought from Leganés for €20M

Rômulo (Striker): Bought from Göztepe for €20M

Ezechiel Banzuzi (Midfielder): Bought from Oud-Heverlee Leuven for €16M

Key Departures

Benjamin Sesko (Striker): Sold to Manchester United for €76.5M

Ilaix Moriba (Midfielder): Sold to Celta de Vigo for €6M

Yussuf Poulsen (Striker): Sold to Hamburg for €1M

André Silva (Striker): Sold to Elche for €1M

Janis Blaswich (Goalkeeper): Sold to Bayer Leverkusen for €2M

Expectation

The Bullen are coming off their worst top-flight campaign, but signs point to them competing for UEFA spots again: odds of 1.8 to finish in the top four suggest only Bayern, Leverkusen, and Dortmund have better chances — the same goes for the title race, with odds of 17.0 for a maiden Bundesliga crown.

St. Pauli

Winners of the 2. Bundesliga in 2023/24, the most Punk club in football returned to the top flight after 23 years, pegged as one of the favorites for relegation. Despite losing coach Fabian Hürzeler before the season began, his replacement Alexander Blessin managed to keep the Freibeuter der Liga up, even with a five-match winless run to close the campaign.

Preseason showed encouraging results against Nice and Verona, but the season will be long against much stronger opponents. St. Pauli will count on lesser-known reinforcements to achieve their eternal goal: being a Punk Rocker in the Bundesliga elite.

Manager

Alexander Blessin

Last Season

14th place

Titles

1 (1947/48)

Key Signings

Morgan Guilavogui (Right Winger): Bought from Lens for €3M

Joel Chima Fujita (Midfielder): Bought from St. Truiden for €3.5M

Mathias Pereira Lage (Left Winger): Free transfer from Stade Brestois 29

Andréas Hountondji (Striker): Loaned from Burnley

Arkadiusz Pyrka (Right Back): Free transfer from Piast Gliwice

Key Departures

Philipp Treu (Right Back): Sold to Freiburg for €5.5M

Morgan Guilavogui (Right Winger): Sold to Lens for €4.5M

Elias Saad (Left Winger): Sold to Augsburg for €2M

Johannes Eggestein (Striker): Free transfer to Austria Wien

Carlo Boukhalfa (Midfielder): Free transfer to St. Gallen

Expectation

For the second straight year, St. Pauli starts among the relegation favorites: odds of 2.5 place them as the second most likely team to go down. With fewer resources than most opponents, Alexander Blessin will need to prove that true Punk Rock is surviving in the Bundesliga with a modest squad.

Stuttgart

Sebastian Hoeneß saved Stuttgart from relegation in 2022/23 and established himself as one of the most sought-after young coaches in the world. The German then returned Die Roten to the Champions League, but the team struggled with the tighter schedule in 2024/25 and finished ninth.

Even with difficulties in the Bundesliga, Stuttgart showed their strength by winning the German Cup for the fourth time. Without Enzo Millot, sold to Al-Ahli, the squad brought in more modest names to try to surprise.

Manager

Sebastian Hoeneß

Last Season

9th place

Titles

3 (1983/84, 1991/92, and 2006/07)

Key Signings

Tiago Tomás (Striker): Bought from Wolfsburg for €13M

Lorenz Assignon (Right Back): Bought from Stade Rennais for €12M

Lazar Jovanovic (Right Winger): Bought from Red Star for €5M

Chema Andrés (Midfielder): Bought from Real Madrid Castilla for €3M

Noah Darvich (Attacking Midfielder): Bought from Barcelona Atlètic for €1M

Key Departures

Enzo Millot (Attacking Midfielder): Sold to Al-Ahli for €28M

Jacob Bruun Larsen (Left Winger): Sold to Burnley for €4M

Woo-yeong Jeong (Attacking Midfielder): Sold to Union Berlin for €4M

Anrie Chase (Defender): Sold to Red Bull Salzburg for €2M

Dennis Seimen (Goalkeeper): Loaned to Paderborn

Expectation

It is unlikely that Stuttgart will win the Bundesliga: odds of 101.0 put Die Roten behind eight other teams. A more realistic expectation is to return to the Champions League, with odds of 4.5 to finish in the top four — placing only five rivals ahead in the race.

Union Berlin

After solid Bundesliga campaigns under Urs Fischer, Union Berlin declined over the last two seasons and battled relegation. Steffen Baumgart took over at the start of 2025 and managed to guide Die Eisernen to finish 11 points clear of the playoff zone.

This is unlikely to be one of the most inspired seasons, as the board mainly focused on replacing those who left. Benedict Hollerbach and Robin Gosens departed the capital, with Andrej Ilic and Derrick Köhn arriving to bring stability to the squad.

Manager

Steffen Baumgart

Last Season

13th place

Best Finish

4th (2022/23)

Key Signings

Andrej Ilic (Striker): Bought from Lille for €5M

Derrick Köhn (Left Back): Bought from Galatasaray for €4M

Woo-yeong Jeong (Attacking Midfielder): Bought from Stuttgart for €4M

Ilyas Ansah (Striker): Bought from Paderborn for €4M

Oliver Burke (Striker): Free transfer from Werder Bremen

Key Departures

Benedict Hollerbach (Striker): Sold to Mainz for €10M

Robin Gosens (Left Back): Sold to Fiorentina for €7M

László Bénes (Midfielder): Loaned to Kayserispor

Ivan Prtajin (Striker): Sold to Kaiserslautern for €1M

Kevin Vogt (Defender): Free transfer to Bochum

Expectation

A very quiet transfer market approach is a warning sign: odds of 5.5 for relegation place Union Berlin as the sixth most at risk of going down.

Werder Bremen

The traditional Werder Bremen returned to the top flight under young coach Ole Werner and stabilized in the Bundesliga. They missed out on a Conference League spot by just one point, which would have returned Die Grün-Weißen to UEFA competitions after 15 years.

With the young coach moving to Red Bull Leipzig, his replacement is Horst Steffen, who comes from a strong spell at Elversberg and nearly earned promotion. Without many signings so far, Werder focused more on releasing players. Youth players Salim Musah and Wesley Adeh were promoted, while left winger Samuel Mbangula joined to strengthen the attack.

Manager

Horst Steffen

Last Season

8th place

Titles

4 (1964/65, 1987/88, 1992/93, and 2003/04)

Key Signings

Samuel Mbangula (Left Winger): Bought from Juventus for €10M

Maximilian Wöber (Defender): Loaned from Leeds United

Karl Hein (Goalkeeper): Loaned from Arsenal

Key Departures

Marvin Ducksch (Striker): Sold to Birmingham City for €2M

Michael Zetterer (Goalkeeper): Sold to Eintracht Frankfurt for €5M

Milos Veljkovic (Defender): Free transfer to Red Star

Oliver Burke (Striker): Free transfer to Union Berlin

Dawid Kownacki (Striker): Loaned to Hertha Berlin

Expectation

On the rise since returning to the top flight, Werder Bremen’s main goal is to return to UEFA competitions. Odds of 3.5 to finish in the top six rank Die Grün-Weißen as the eighth most likely team — and the possibility of an extra spot adds further motivation. Relegation seems unlikely, with odds of 8.0 and ten teams more threatened.

Wolfsburg

In the Bundesliga for 29 years, Wolfsburg has endured inconsistent seasons, far from the team that shocked the league by winning the 2008/09 title. Fighting in the lower half of the table, Die Wölfe opted for a managerial change and ended the season with Daniel Bauer, the U-19 coach.

For the new campaign, the choice was young Paul Simonis, who made a strong start in Dutch football. Names like striker Mohamed Amoura, right winger Jesper Lindstrøm, and midfielder Vini Souza strengthen the squad, which relies on lesser-known players under Simonis and assistant Maximilian Arnold — a club legend.

Manager

Paul Simonis

Last Season

11th place

Titles

1 (2008/09)

Key Signings

Mohamed Amoura (Striker): Bought from Union Saint-Gilloise for €14.75M

Jesper Lindstrøm (Right Winger): Loaned from Napoli

Vini Souza (Midfielder): Bought from Sheffield United for €15M

Denis Vavro (Defender): Bought from Copenhagen for €2M

Aaron Zehnter (Midfielder): Bought from Paderborn for €4.5M

Key Departures

Tiago Tomás (Striker): Sold to Stuttgart for €13M

Aster Vranckx (Midfielder): Loaned to Sassuolo

Cédric Zesiger (Defender): Sold to Augsburg for €4M

Sebastiaan Bornauw (Defender): Sold to Leeds United for €6M

Jakub Kaminski (Left Winger): Loaned to Cologne

Expectation

The dream of returning to UEFA competitions after four years still seems far from reality for Wolfsburg. Odds of 5.5 to finish in the top six place Die Wölfe behind ten teams. Relegation, however, also looks unlikely, as odds of 6.0 indicate that eight teams are in greater danger.

Bundesliga 2025/26 Betting Tips

Betting on the Bundesliga requires more than just a passion for football. Here, strategy, data, and responsibility go hand in hand. Below are some crucial tips to help you bet on the new German football season with balanced safety and fun — courtesy of our Sports Betting Encyclopedia!

Home Advantage

The Bundesliga strongly favors home teams: around 44% of matches end in home wins. In balanced duels, this factor can be a great opportunity. Consider, for example, simple bets like “home team wins” or “light handicaps” when exploring this scenario.

Over/Under

The Bundesliga is synonymous with attacking football: in the 2024/25 season, the average was 3.1 goals per match, and in some cases, it exceeded that mark. Bets on markets like “over 2.5 goals,” “between 3 and 4 goals,” or even “both teams to score” are often valuable, especially in clashes between offensive teams with vulnerable defenses.

Live Betting

Live markets such as “assist markets” or “both teams to score (which half/first scorer)” can offer good opportunities, especially in unpredictable matches.

Bankroll Management

Sometimes, resisting the temptation to bet on the favorite is necessary. Low odds (e.g., Bayern Munich at 1.3) offer little return for the risk. A tip is to look for value in lesser-watched markets and teams. For example, bets on Leverkusen or Dortmund, Asian handicaps, or options like “first team to score” and “over/under” may be more attractive depending on your betting style. But one thing is true for every bet: good bankroll management makes any wager more rational, safe, and fun.

Lineups, Injuries, and Motivation

Always confirm lineups before betting, as clubs involved in European competitions or with key injuries often rotate players in the Bundesliga. Also, toward the end of the season, teams without a clear objective on the pitch can produce surprises — so pay attention to each team’s motivation!

Bet Responsibly

Responsible Gambling is essential. Betting should always be fun, conscious, and controlled, never an impulsive decision. Follow Responsible Gaming guidelines and, above all, always choose government-regulated betting platforms, such as Blaze, which provide security, fair play, and user support.

Where to Watch the 2025/26 Bundesliga

Brazilian fans of the German championship can follow the 2025/26 Bundesliga through the cable TV channels SporTV or Nosso Futebol, or via streaming on the official OneFootball platform.

Bet on the 2025/26 Bundesliga at Blaze!

The 2025/26 Bundesliga kicks off with Bayern as the favorite, but with the title race heated by Leverkusen, Dortmund, and potential surprises like Stuttgart and Freiburg. To bet successfully, take advantage of the championship’s characteristics, study data, and explore markets while having fun responsibly.

But don’t forget: responsibility is what ensures fun without headaches. Betting is not an investment or a source of income! Play responsibly and wager only amounts you can dedicate to entertainment.

Pick your prediction and maximize the excitement of the and bet on the 2025/26 Bundesliga at Blaze right now!

Frequently Asked Questions About the 2025/26 Bundesliga

When does the 2025/26 Bundesliga start and end?

The competition runs from August 22, 2025, to May 16, 2026.

Which teams were promoted and relegated this Bundesliga season?

Promoted: Hamburg SV and 1. FC Köln. Relegated: Holstein Kiel and VfL Bochum.

What is the average number of goals in the Bundesliga and is it good for betting?

The average is around 3.1 goals per match, which favors bets on “over 2.5 goals” or “both teams to score.”

How to bet on the Bundesliga?

Study data and statistics about the Bundesliga, understand the principles of Responsible Gaming, and choose a government-regulated betting platform like Blaze. This will ensure a healthy and fun sports betting experience!