Bayern’s squad has lost depth, but starts in pole position to win the German championship for the second consecutive time.

Bayern Munich and Leipzig kick off the 63rd edition of the Bundesliga this Friday, with the reigning champions looking to clinch their 13th German title in the last 14 seasons.

Bayern Munich are on course to solidify a hegemony that has been threatened by Bayer Leverkusen in the last two years.

Vincent Kompany was the mastermind behind last season’s Bundesliga reconquest, finishing 13 points ahead of the ‘Pharmacists.’ The Belgian manager’s style of play translates into an offensive carousel whose output is not matched defensively.

Bayern’s inconsistency, which saw them concede 57 goals in 56 games last season, was reflected in their eliminations in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League and the Club World Cup.

Winning the German Supercup against Stuttgart (2-1) has temporarily quieted the debate over the longevity of Vincent Kompany’s project and fueled the Bavarians’ expectations for a season in which they are clear favourites in domestic competitions.

The impact of Musiala’s absence, as he recovers from a fibula fracture sustained at the Club World Cup, could be mitigated by a €75 million investment.

Luis Diaz swapped Liverpool for Bayern in search of the spotlight he had lost at Anfield in recent months. The experienced Jonathan Tah and the young Tom Bischof complete the list of the Bavarians’ new signings, who have nevertheless lost some squad depth this summer.

Leroy Sané and Eric Dier’s contracts expired, and they left on free transfers to Galatasaray and Monaco, respectively. João Palhinha followed, loaned to Tottenham, and Kingsley Coman moved to Al Nassr for €40 million, the Bavarians’ main income this transfer window.

The lack of depth on the wings is a concern but is expected to be addressed before the transfer window closes. Nkunku is a target due to the versatility he would add to an attack that has Harry Kane as its undisputed star and only fixed reference.

The perennial favorites begin their Bundesliga campaign at home against the eternal contenders: Leipzig. A disappointing seventh-place finish last season resulted in their absence from European competitions for the first time since their debut in the German top flight in 2016/17.

Ole Werner was recruited from Werder Bremen to lead the overhaul of a squad that has already lost Benjamin Sesko to Old Trafford and may soon say goodbye to Xavi Simons. The Dutch No. 10 is in negotiations with Chelsea and could leave Leipzig without its main creative force.

The signings of forward Rômulo and young midfielder Andrija Maksimovic are exciting, while Timo Werner’s return from loan could have an unexpected impact. The loss of key players and adaptation to a new manager takes the pressure off and eases the obligation to fight for the German title.

Conversely, Bayer Leverkusen appears to be Bayern’s main challenger for the German crown. The ‘Pharmacists’ are looking to prove they are still in the title race, even without the maestro Xabi Alonso.

The architect behind the club’s first-ever Bundesliga title, which broke Bayern’s 11-year dominance, left for Real Madrid after the attempt at a second consecutive championship fell short.

The ‘Pharmacists’ have brought in Erik ten Hag to replace the Spanish coach. The former Manchester United manager is tasked with ensuring the team doesn’t fall back into just fighting for UEFA Champions League qualification with a revamped squad.

Florian Wirtz, who contributed to 30 goals last season, has moved to Liverpool along with right-winger Frimpong. The Reds invested €165 million in Leverkusen, and the ‘Pharmacists’ responded by spending €50 million to rebuild their defensive line.

Jarell Quansah and Caoimhin Kelleher have the opportunity to break out at Leverkusen, filling the voids left by Jonathan Tah, who joined rivals Bayern, and Hradecky, Monaco’s new goalkeeper. Erik ten Hag’s new-look side begins their Bundesliga journey at home against Hoffenheim on Saturday at 2:30 PM.

Three hours later, it’s Borussia Dortmund’s turn to kick off their Bundesliga season for the first time, away at St. Pauli in Hamburg.

Niko Kovac’s team is relying on the continuity of the core group that competed in the Club World Cup, with the exception of Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.

The English winger, now at Chelsea, is an example of the exodus of elite individual talent from German football: Hugo Ekitiké left Frankfurt and is already scoring for Liverpool, Millot moved to Saudi Arabia leaving Stuttgart without its creative spark, and Benjamin Sesko is Ruben Amorim’s new attacking reference in Manchester.

On the other hand, Guirassy, who scored 38 goals last season, is a strong candidate to dethrone Harry Kane as the Bundesliga’s top scorer.

To date, the Portuguese contingent in the Bundesliga consists of seven athletes across five clubs. With Palhinha’s departure, Bayern loses the title of the club with the most Portuguese players but retains two representatives: Raphael Guerreiro and David Daiber.

The 18-year-old midfielder was part of the Bavarian squad for the Club World Cup and pre-season. A loan could be the ideal solution for him to gain competitive rhythm, but the creativity he has already shown is exciting.

Meanwhile, expectations for the Portuguese-French full-back have risen after he played over 36 games for the first time since 2021. Guerreiro is competing with Stanisic for the starting spot on the left flank, but his use in midfield is not out of the question, given his ability to exploit space between the lines and get into scoring positions.

Although he does not currently play for the national team, Guerreiro has stated his desire to get back into Roberto Martínez’s plans. The World Cup at the end of the season sharpens the 31-year-old’s drive to impress.

Also dreaming of a spot in the national team is Diogo Leite, a cornerstone of Union Berlin. His 111 appearances for the capital’s team over the last three seasons reflect the centre-back’s impact, though he was plagued by a larynx fracture towards the end of last season.

Meanwhile, Tiago Tomás is looking for a fresh start at the club that first welcomed him to German football. The Portuguese forward recorded his best goal tally (6) and most appearances (36) in three and a half seasons in Germany while playing for Wolfsburg.

These numbers sparked interest from Stuttgart, who paid around €13 million to secure TT’s signing. Tiago Tomás returns to the club he helped promote in ’22 and for which he scored eight goals in 46 games over a year and a half.

Besides three heavyweights with extensive Bundesliga experience, there’s room for newcomers. Daniel Heuer Fernandes, who represented the Portugal U21 national team at the 2015 European Championship, is expected to be Hamburg’s starting goalkeeper upon their return to the Bundesliga.

The 32-year-old goalkeeper has a long career in the Bundesliga 2 but has only played seven top-flight matches, which were for Darmstadt in 2016/17. Heuer Fernandes shares the dressing room with centre-back Guilherme Ramos.

The Sporting academy graduate returns to Hamburg after being on loan at Santa Clara last season. Ramos, heading into his fourth season in German football, has 13 Bundesliga appearances to his name with Arminia Bielefeld in 2021/2022.

The 19-year-old winger David Leal Costa completes the Portuguese contingent in the Bundesliga. The Portuguese left-winger moved from Wolfsburg to Augsburg and hopes to make his first-team debut this season.