Best bets, odds and winner predictions for the 2023-24 German Bundesliga season: Red Bulls can produce a sustained title charge

When does the 2023-24 German Bundesliga season start?

Friday, August 18

2023-24 German Bundesliga winner odds

3-10 Bayern Munich, 5 Borussia Dortmund, 12 Leipzig, 50 Bayer Leverkusen, 100 bar.

Best bets for the 2023-24 German Bundesliga season

RB Leipzig without Bayern Munich
4pts 5-2 bet365, Hills

Union Berlin top-four finish
2pts 100-30 bet365

Liam Flin's 2023-24 German Bundesliga winner predictions

Bayern Munich claimed their 11th Bundesliga title on the spin last season, edging Borussia Dortmund on goal difference thanks to a final-day win over Cologne.

It was the closest Dortmund have come to topping the table since their 2012 title triumph and punters may be thinking the 2023-24 season will finally be Die Schwarzgelben’s time to shine. The hard truth, however, may be that BVB have let their best opportunity pass them by.

For starters they head into the new campaign without star player Jude Bellingham, who completed a £88 million move to Real Madrid in June, leaving Dortmund with a noticeable void in midfield.

But what is more concerning for the Dortmund faithful is that Bayern Munich were well off their usual pace last season, posting their worst points total (71) since the 2010-11 season, and yet Dortmund still could not get over the line.

Such complacency is not expected from Munich this time. The Bavarians have acquired one of Dortmund’s most talented individuals in Raphael Guerreiro and if Harry Kane ends up in Munich then the rest really will be playing for second spot.

Leipzig were only five points further back in third last term and they could be the side to give the champions most to think about.

The Red Bulls wobbled at the start of the season under Domenico Tedesco but wasted no time in changing things and they look in good hands under replacement Marco Rose, who swiftly masterminded a German Cup success.

Stars Christopher Nkunku and Dominik Szoboszlai have departed for the Premier League this summer but Leipzig’s recruitment has been spot on.

Lois Openda, who bagged 21 Ligue 1 goals for Lens last term, has arrived up top along with Salzburg starlet Benjamin Sesko, while Nicolas Seiwald, Christoph Baumgartner and loanees Fabio Carvalho and Xavi Simons are excellent additions in midfield.

The battle for fourth spot looks competitive but punters could do worse than backing Union Berlin, who are preparing for their maiden Champions League voyage.

The Berliners juggled European football and league duties well last term, reaching the Europa League knockout stage and placing fourth in the Bundesliga, and they can do so again.

Key forwards Sheraldo Becker and Kevin Behrens remain in the German capital and while recruitment has been modest, Alex Kral, David Datro Fofana and Brenden Aaronson could prove astute loan signings which help to bulk out the squad.

Union look a more settled group than Bayer Leverkusen, who finished 12 points off the top four last season and have lost top scorer Moussa Diaby, while Freiburg have sold star shot-stopper Mark Flekken.

Eintracht Frankfurt, meanwhile, were wildly inconsistent in the second half of the season and have seen Daichi Kamada, who netted 16 goals in all competitions last term, leave after his contract expired.

It is hard to look beyond promoted clubs Heidenheim and Darmstadt in the relegation markets and the pair could occupy the bottom two for much of the campaign.

Bochum and Augsburg are also expected to be in the reckoning for the drop but last season’s 16th-placed side Stuttgart should be better equipped under Sebastian Hoeness this time around, especially given that their top goalscorer Serhou Guirassy has signed on a permanent deal.

Liam Flin's predictions for the 2023-24 German Bundesliga season

Winner
Bayern Munich

Top-four finish
RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund, Union Berlin

Top scorer
Lois Openda

Relegated
Heidenheim, Darmstadt

Breakout star
Benjamin Sesko, RB Leipzig

Striker Sesko is following in the footsteps of Erling Haaland by leaving RB Salzburg for the Bundesliga. The 20-year-old, who has joined Leipzig this summer, scored 16 goals in 30 appearance for the Austrian champions last term and he looks a star in the making.

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