Bayern Munich title odds in 2023/24 – Are the champs unstoppable?

BAYERN MUNICH TITLE ODDS – ARE THE CHAMPS UNSTOPPABLE? – The new Bundesliga campaign is just around the corner, and over the next six weeks, I will look at the prospects of all 18 teams set to participate in Germany’s elite soccer competition.

But to start with, there is an Augsburg side looking to break into the top half after years of frustration.

Augsburg

This will be Augsburg’s ‘lucky’ 13th successive season in the Bundesliga. However, they haven’t been able to emulate their impressive fifth-place finish of 2014/15. They’ve ended up somewhere between 12th and 15th ever since, finishing in the latter place last season.

Club info

• Founded: 1907
• Stadium: WWK Arena (Capacity: 30,660)
• Notable honors: None
• Nickname: Fuggerstädter
• Last season: 15th
• Outright price: +100,000*

Key player

A free transfer from Freiburg last July, Ermedin Demirović’s tally of eight goals in 2022/23 made a huge difference. Amongst those was a crucial equalizer at Frankfurt on matchweek 30, which helped Augsburg eventually avoid the relegation playoffs by just a single point:

Predicted finish: 16th (Relegation playoff)

Much will hinge on Demirović building on a reasonable maiden campaign with Augsburg, especially as the only man to equal him last term was loanee Mërgim Berisha. He himself will soon return to Turkish club Fenerbahçe unless bought permanently.

That can only give coach Enrico Maaßen more of a headache than ever in a ruthless league.

Bochum

Despite taking just a single point in the opening eight rounds of 2022/23, Bochum didn’t even have to endure a relegation playoff in the end.

The fact that they finished 14th is a glowing testament to Thomas Letsch’s management skills. But the hard work has only just begun. More free arrivals and loans seem to be the order of the day, for a club continually punching above its weight.

Club info

• Founded: 1911
• Stadium: Vonovia-Ruhrstadiono (Capacity: 27, 599)
• Notable honors: 2. Bundesliga (x4)
• Nickname: Der Blau (The Blues)
• Last season: 14th
• Outright price: +100,000*

Key player

Philipp Hofmann’s return of eight goals for Bochum is nothing special at face value, but there were some crucial contributions. His January brace against last-placed Hertha Berlin certainly falls into that category, proving pivotal in the battle at the bottom:

Predicted finish: 15th

In some respects, Bochum are ‘Dortmund lite’, having matched said club’s league-low tally of five draws. Their record as home underdogs was respectable last term (6W, 2T, 6L).

But more firepower is needed to ensure they can continue relying so much on home form to save themselves again.

Bayern Munich (C)

Bayern’s eleventh straight German title was just one more Dortmund win from turning to dust. The Bavarian giants will surely react to such a big wake-up call and dominate once more.

Club info

• Founded: 1900
• Stadium: Allianz Arena (Capacity: 75,000)
• Notable honors: Bundesliga (x32), DFB-Pokal (x20), UEFA Champions League (x6)
• Nickname: Die Roten (The Reds)
• Last season: 1st
• Outright price: -350*

Key player

We are spoilt for choice on the back of Bayern’s first season without record breaker Robert Lewandowski since 2013/14. However, Jamal Musiala has thrived under coach Tuchel and should continue to do so.

That is, despite links to a Manchester United transfer doing the rounds.

Bayern’s top league scorer of 2022/23 also clinched the title in matchweek 34’s fading moments:

Predicted finish: 1st

There’s just something supernatural about this club, which can seemingly do no wrong most of the time. And while Thomas Tuchel’s move towards a more all-rounded approach on the pitch makes Bayern more predictable, the unrivaled level of technical skill more than compensates.

All key players featured were on the active roster at their respective clubs as of June 19, 2023. (*Prices shown, including the Bayern Munich title odds, are averages based on current outright odds provided by UK sportsbooks.)