There are still plenty of games to play in 2024/25 but the usual suspects, and some surprise contenders, are leading the way right now

bundesliga

Bayern Munich lead the pack in increasingly exciting title race

02.01.2025

As the 2024/25 Bundesliga title race heats up, bundesliga.com runs through the early challengers for what promises to be an exceptional run towards Meisterschale glory.

Bayern Munich
Position: 1st
Points: 36 (15 games)
Goals: 47-13 (+34)

With Bayern top of the pile at Christmas for a 27th time, fans of the record champions will be well aware their side have gone on to win the title from here on 23 out of 26 previous occasions. Under recently appointed coach Vincent Kompany, FCB are running more, conceding fewer chances than ever before and significantly outscoring their Bundesliga rivals.

Yet there are chinks in this generally well-constructed armour and a Matchday 14 loss against in-form Mainz prior to the winter break exposed some of those. The Bavarians are two points down on their total after 15 games as compared to last year but with Jamal Musiala (11 goal involvements) playing out of his skin, Minjae Kim and Dayot Upamecano marshalling a solid defence and Michael Olise and top-scoring Harry Kane in fine form, Bayern will take some beating after the winter break, as rivals Leipzig found out in a 5-1 humbling at the Allianz Arena before Christmas.

Watch: Bayern eased past Leipzig before Christmas

Bayer Leverkusen
Position: 2nd
Points: 32 (15 games)
Goals: 37-21 (+16)

That the defending champions are right in the mix again this time around is testament to a team that have shown focus and resilience under coach Xabi Alonso after what some described as a stuttering start to the season.

A Matchday 2 loss against Leipzig in a game Bayer were leading 2-0 summed up a habit Die Werkself picked up of giving away leads early in the campaign. The challenge of losing both main strikers Victor Boniface and Patrik Schick to injury at one stage could even have led to Leverkusen falling further away. Yet Alonso has steadied a Bayer ship brilliantly manned by last term's Bundesliga Player of the Season Florian Wirtz (seven goals, seven assists), while the rest of last season's double-winning cast and crew have learned from their early-season errors to come back with renewed vigour in time to take the fight to leaders Bayern.

A run of eight straight wins in all competitions - and five in the Bundesliga - means Leverkusen are exuding confidence going into 2025.

Watch: Wirtz, Leverkusen's game changer

Eintracht Frankfurt
Position: 3rd
Points: 27 (15 games)
Goals: 35-23 (+12)

Had you offered those at Eintracht the possibility of gong into the winter break in third place, all concerned would gladly have accepted. The only downside to events that have propelled the Eagles into an early title tilt is that Dino Töppmöller's men played themselves into a poor run of form just before the break.

Prior to hitting a sequence of no wins and four defeats in five competitive games to close out 2024, Frankfurt were flying. Forwards Omar Marmoush - the Bundesliga's second highest scorer with 13 goals - and Hugo Ekitiké offer an exhilarating strike partnership, and one that can help lift Die Adler once more in the New Year.

Hugo Larsson has been his consistent best in midfield while versatile full-back Nathaniel Brown is one of the season's revelations, even winning the Bundesliga's Rookie of the Month award in November. Iron out December's creases, and Eintracht can build on their best current placing and points total for 31 years.

Watch: Eintracht show their potential in Heidenheim

RB Leipzig
Position: 4th
Points: 27 (15 games)
Goals: 24-20 (+4)

Much like Eintracht, Leipzig struggled to find consistency towards the end of the year but there were enough flashes of fine form in the season's opening to suggest that Marco Rose can set his side right in 2025.

Of course, Die Roten Bullen's coach can justifiably point to an injury-plagued season and the return of several key stars - like attacking midfielder Xavi - will no doubt bring a lift to a team that has been largely hanging around the division's top four ever since they were first promoted to the Bundesliga in 2017.

Rediscovering the defensive solidity that saw RBL concede just five goals in the opening 10 matchdays will be crucial, given that Leipzig shipped 15 in their last five. Benjamin Šeško's goals - the Slovenian scored three in each of his previous three top-tier games - allied with the attacking creativity of Antonio Nusa and Loïs Openda's ability to score and assist (the Belgian has 10 goal involvements in 2024/25) make the Red Bulls solid contenders once more.

Leipzig will strengthen with Xavi's return from injury. - IMAGO/Roger Petzsche

Mainz
Position: 5th
Points: 25 (15 games)
Goals: 28-20 (+8)

Surely not even the ever-chipper Bo Henriksen would have predicted this? Or maybe he would. The always upbeat Danish coach has full belief in his 05ers ever since he guided them to an unlikely run that led to Bundesliga survival at the tail-end of last term.

What's just as incredible this time around is that Mainz were down in 13th place after nine games, having won only twice in the early part of the season. Now, after five wins in their last six, Henriksen and Co. find themselves in their best position for over two years, and although a shot at the title might seem fanciful, with star striker Jonathan Burkardt scoring his way to a senior Germany debut - the 24-year-old netting 10 times in this Bundesliga season so far - Die Nullfünfer are happy to see where this current run takes them.

Burkardt sustained a hamstring injury in the memorable Matchday 14 win against Bayern but that setback was eased with Paul Nebel scoring five goals in his last six matches, as Mainz continued to delight their fans with a win at third-placed Frankfurt before the year's end.

Watch: Jonathan Burkardt can't stop scoring

Borussia Dortmund
Position: 6th
Points: 25 (15 games)
Goals: 28-22 (+6)

In Nuri Şahin's first season at the Dortmund helm, Die Schwarzgelben have been largely untouchable... at home. Ahead of the winter break, BVB topped the home standings as one of only two clubs - the other being Bayern - who haven't suffered a reverse in their own back yard in 2024/25.

The problem for the five-time Bundesliga champions is that they only picked up their first win on the road in the Matchday 15 fixture away to Wolfsburg. That 3-1 triumph showcases some of the best Borussia had to offer this term and Şahin will see it as a positive for a team that traditionally produces admirable form in the second half of seasons when they have done relatively poorly - by their lofty standards - beforehand. Added to the fact that Wolfsburg once clawed back an 11-point deficit to win the title in 2008/09 and Dortmund fans can continue to believe this season.

Attacking duo Serhou Guirassy and Jamie Gittens are fuelling BVB's desire while the gradual emptying of what was a busy treatment room should aid Şahin's fight in 2025.