Bundesliga 2026/27 Title Race: Who Can Stop Bayern Munich?

Bayern Munich have lifted the Bundesliga Meisterschale for the past two seasons, and with Harry Kane leading the line they remain the team to beat. But as the 2026/27 campaign approaches, three sides have emerged as credible challengers: Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and VfB Stuttgart. Each finished in the top four last season and has taken steps to close the gap. Here is a closer look at what they need to do to turn the race into a genuine contest.

Borussia Dortmund – building on defensive solidity

Dortmund ended the 2025/26 season as the clear runners-up, finishing eight points ahead of third-placed Leipzig. Under Niko Kovač, the Black-Yellows conceded a league-low 34 goals – a defensive record that kept them in contention even when results slipped. Their 73-point tally was the club’s highest since 2018/19, and they lost only two of their first 28 league fixtures, both against Bayern.

The return of key players from World Cup duty – including goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and full-back Julian Ryerson – adds depth. Youngsters Samuele Inácio and Luca Reggiani impressed late last season and could provide extra creativity. Serhou Guirassy remains a reliable focal point up front. Kovač now has a full campaign under his belt, giving him more time to refine the system.

However, Dortmund were never really within striking distance of Bayern. Their two losses to the champions exposed a gap that will need to be closed through consistency in the head-to-head meetings.

RB Leipzig – new coach, fresh ambition

Leipzig finished third last term, recovering from a 6-0 opening-day defeat to Bayern to register a joint club-record 20 wins. They secured Champions League qualification and saw youngsters such as Assan Ouédraogo and Antonio Nusa emerge as key contributors. Yan Diomande also broke through with an impressive campaign.

The club made a bold move in the summer, replacing head coach Ole Werner with Martín Demichelis. The former Bayern defender knows the winning mentality of the Munich club from his playing days and has previously led Bayern’s reserves. He inherits a squad that now includes striker Rômulo and Conrad Harder, both expected to be fully adapted to the Bundesliga after a season of settling in. Defender Maxime Estève has been added to bolster a backline that already features Castello Lukeba and Willi Orbán.

Leipzig’s challenge will be to find a consistent goalscorer from the centre-forward position – something they lacked last season. Demichelis’s track record at youth level suggests he can develop attacking patterns, but the step up to first-team management in a title race is a different test.

VfB Stuttgart – continuity and firepower

Stuttgart have established themselves as a top-four side, qualifying for the Champions League for the second time in three seasons and reaching a second consecutive DFB Cup final. Deniz Undav scored 19 Bundesliga goals last term – the second-highest total in the division and the most of any player across Europe’s top five leagues. Eight Stuttgart players went to the World Cup, underlining the squad’s depth.

The biggest boost for Stuttgart is that head coach Sebastian Hoeneß remains in charge. Since arriving in 2023, he has overseen continuous improvement. The club have kept their key players this summer, with only Alexander Nübel departing after three years on loan (joining Beşiktaş permanently). Bilal El Khannouss has been signed permanently from Leicester City, and veteran midfielder Grischa Prömel adds experience.

Stuttgart’s challenge is the same as last season: turning impressive domestic form into sustained pressure on the leaders. They beat Bayern in the DFB Cup final but finished 10 points behind them in the league. Closing that gap will require avoiding the mid-season slumps that have plagued them in previous years.

Key facts

What this means for the 2026/27 race

Bayern Munich remain the clear favourites, but the gap is narrower than it was two years ago. Dortmund have the defensive foundation to stay in the race, Leipzig have the squad depth and a new tactical voice, and Stuttgart have the attacking firepower and coaching stability. The key variable is whether any of them can produce a sustained winning run against the Bundesliga’s weaker sides while winning at least one of the two meetings with Bayern.

The season opens with several early tests that will quickly clarify the pecking order. Fans should watch how quickly Demichelis settles at Leipzig and whether Dortmund can turn close defeats into victories. Stuttgart, meanwhile, will need to prove that their cup performances can translate into league consistency over 34 matchdays.

Source: Bundesliga – “Who can challenge Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga title?” (https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/who-can-challenge-bayern-munich-title-borussia-dortmund-rb-leipzig-vfb-stuttgart-bayer-leverkusen-38312)