Thomas Müller does not see Bayer Leverkusen as a serious challenger to Bayern Munich in the new Bundesliga season. The former Bayern star made these comments in an interview published by Die Welt Sport.
The season kicks off on Friday evening with defending champions FC Bayern hosting VfB Stuttgart at the sold-out Munich Arena. Müller, who now plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps but remains under contract with Bayern until 2025, believes it will never be relaxed under coach Vincent Kompany. "Entspannt wird es unter Trainer Vincent Kompany nie, denn er wird die Zügel auf jeden Fall straff halten," Müller said.
Müller describes Bayer Leverkusen's 2023/24 season as an absolute exception. Back then, Leverkusen amassed 90 points, one more than Bayern managed last season. That campaign was defined by many last-minute goals and extraordinary consistency. For the upcoming season, however, Müller expects no similar contender. "Ich sehe kein neues Leverkusen," he stated clearly. He lists Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, and Leverkusen as the usual suspects who could challenge Bayern. But he sees no real threat to Munich's dominance.
Müller predicts Bayern will again reach a points tally around 89. He respects VfB Stuttgart under Sebastian Hoeneß but does not expect them to surpass 80 points in a season. He anticipates Stuttgart will be in the mix for Champions League places. Hoeneß is also mentioned in media reports as a potential successor to Kompany should he ever leave the club. Müller praises Hoeneß for his excellent control, a clear playing idea, and the stability he has given the club.
Bayer Leverkusen is coming off a disappointing 2025 season. The club finished the completed campaign in 5th place in the Bundesliga with 52 points from 29 games. Their record was 15 wins, 7 draws, and 7 losses. Their recent form shows two wins and three draws in their last five matches (WWDDD). In the table, Leverkusen now trails leaders Bayern Munich by 24 points. The team scored 59 goals and conceded 39 last season, resulting in a +20 goal difference.
The next challenge is a home match against Union Berlin on September 5, 2026. Union currently sits in 11th place. Ahead of this fixture, coach Xabi Alonso must cope with several injured players. The current injury list includes Arthur, Kennet Eichhorn, Martin Terrier, and Montrell Culbreath. Their return is vital for the upcoming tasks.
Bayern Munich invested heavily early in the transfer window by signing Ismael Saibari and Nathaniel Brown. The total fee for the two talents is reported to be around 100 million euros. Müller sees these signings as a clear signal to improve the squad further. The players bring future potential and are meant to secure the squad's strength. These investments show Munich's ambition to continue dominating the league.
Müller also looks forward to facing his former teammate Martín Demichelis, who is the new coach at RB Leipzig. Also, he is convinced that the World Cup disappointment will not affect Harry Kane. He believes the striker will continue his top performances and score goals if he maintains his physical level. For Borussia Dortmund, Müller predicts they will be good and have the ambition to be there if Bayern weakens. He is certain, however, that Bayern will not weaken.
Thomas Müller's comments put pressure on Bayer Leverkusen to exceed expectations. The team must prove that after finishing 5th last season, they can reconnect with the top. Injury concerns before the match against Union Berlin are a first hurdle. The Werkself can review their offensive and defensive performance from last season on our stats page. The focus now is on making a strong start to the season and closing the gap to Bayern. The coming weeks will show if Leverkusen can shed the underdog role.
