Bayern Munich won the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup last weekend, but their main focus is the start of the Bundesliga season. Vincent Kompany’s men are the defending champions and they will not give up their crown without a fight.

Can RB Leipzig throw an early spanner in the Bayern works, or will Kompany’s team get off to a winning start?

• Bayern Munich to start with win – evens with BetMGM
• Expect goals on opening night – 8/11 with Betfred
• Another brace beckons for Kane – 15/8 with SBK

Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig odds

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Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig predictions

After finishing third in the Bundesliga and exiting the DFB-Pokal in the second round in 2023/24, Bayern Munich reasserted their domestic dominance last season.

Bayern rose to the summit of the standings after a 6-1 thrashing of Holstein Kiel on matchday three in the middle of September. They remained there until the end of the campaign, with Bayer Leverkusen unable to close the gap after a mediocre start.

Bayern only lost two league games on their way to the title in Vincent Kompany’s debut season at the helm. In the end they finished a comfortable 13 points clear of Leverkusen. Bayern always had a reasonably comfortable cushion to separate them from Xabi Alonso’s side.

Bayern were not triumphant in the DFB-Pokal, but they beat the winners of that competition – Stuttgart – in the Franz Beckenbauer Super Cup last weekend. 

Harry Kane gave Bayern the lead in the 18th minute, with Luis Diaz doubling their advantage in the second half. Stuttgart halved the deficit in second-half stoppage time, but it was a case of too little, too late.

Bayern begin the new Bundesliga season as strong favourites to win the title again. Leverkusen, champions in 2023/24 and runners-up last term, have lost Alonso, their inspirational manager. Their star player Florian Wirtz has also departed along with Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah and others. Leverkusen face a transitional season under Erik ten Hag.

Borussia Dortmund ended last season strongly as Niko Kovac made his mark, but it would take a huge improvement for them to overhaul Bayern. After all, BVB finished 25 points adrift of Bayern last season.

RB Leipzig have even more ground to make up. Last season was their worst ever in the Bundesliga, as Leipzig slumped to a seventh-place finish. They are not in Europe this term, so the new head coach Ole Werner will be fully focused on the Bundesliga.

Bayern, for their part, will be expected to make progress in the Champions League having exited that tournament in the quarter-finals last season. 

At the same time, they must not lose focus on the Bundesliga. Kompany did well in his first campaign in charge, but he must continue to take Bayern forward.

“We want to take the next step as a club, even if we finished on 80 points [actually 82],” Kompany said last week. “But we want to do something extra. That’s always our goal.”

Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig betting tips

Bayern Munich will be looking to start the Bundesliga season with a home win.

Bayern Munich to start with win

Bayern Munich have not had the busiest summer, with Luis Diaz the only senior signing up to now. 

Leroy Sane, Eric Dier, Thomas Muller, Kingsley Coman and Joao Palhinha have all departed, so Bayern’s squad looks a little light at the moment.

Even so, the champions should have more than enough to beat RB Leipzig on matchday one. 

The Allianz Arena is a tough place to go at any time, but Bayern will be chomping at the bit to get going on Friday. That makes things even harder for Leipzig.

We can see the visitors scoring at least, but avoiding defeat will probably be beyond them.

Tip Bayern Munich to win and both teams to score at evens with BetMGM

Expect goals on opening night

Bayern Munich scored 99 goals in their 34 Bundesliga outings last season. At the other end of the field, they shipped 32. 

That works out as an average of 3.85 goals per game involving Kompany’s team – a remarkably high figure.

For better or worse, Kompany is an attack-minded manager. He will want to see his team tighten up at the back this season, but not necessarily if that comes at the expense of their attacking output.

RB Leipzig will cause problems via the likes of Johan Bakayoko and Lois Openda, so we are in store for a high-scoring affair.

Choose over 3.5 goals at 8/11 with Betfred

Another brace beckons for Kane

For the second year in a row, Kane was the top scorer in the Bundesliga last season.

The England international scored two or more goals nine times in all competitions, and it is worth a punt on him doing so here.

Kane was on target in the Supercup against Stuttgart, setting Bayern on their way with that first-half effort.

RB Leipzig will have their hands full in attempting to keep Kane quiet. Many of Bayern’s chances will fall to their striker, and everyone knows by now how deadly Kane is in and around the penalty area.

Go for Harry Kane to score two goals or more at 15/8 with SBK

Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig predicted lineups

• Bayern Munich expected lineup: Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Guerreiro; Kimmich, Goretzka; Gnabry, Olise, Diaz; Kane.
• RB Leipzig expected lineup: Gulacsi; Nedeljkovic, Orban, Lukeba, Raum; Seiwald, Baumgartner, Schlager; Bakayoko, Openda, Nusa.

Where to watch Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig

• Location: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany.
• Date and time: Friday 22nd August, 7.30pm.
• How to watch: Sky Sports Football.

More Bundesliga predictions

We have several other Bundesliga predictions and picks – find our latest betting tips from expert punters in our match preview overview.

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