WHAT better way to kick off the Bundesliga than with an opening match featuring team of the moment FC Bayern München.
On Saturday, Sept. 19, Bayern will face FC Shalke 04, which finished last season at mid-table, a far cry from the latter’s 2017-18 runner-up finish.
In contrast, Bayern have won the German league for eight straight seasons.
Not only that, Bayern finished 2019-20 with a treble: the Bundesliga title, the German Cup and the UEFA Champions League title, its second since 2013.
The manner in which it disposed of FC Barcelona with an unthinkable 8-2 scoreline in the Champions League quarterfinals will be talked about for years, perhaps much more than its 3-0 semifinal win over Lyon and 1-0 triumph over Paris Saint-Germain in the final.
With such an incredible season, all eyes will be on Bayern.
Led by manager Hansi Flick, who was only appointed to the post midway last season, Bayern will be bannered by Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Müller, Serge Gnabry, Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich and the near impenetrable shotstopper Manuel Neuer.
New signings winger Leroy Sané from Manchester City, centerback Tanguy Nianzou from PSG and goalkeeper Alexander Nübel from Schalke are players to watch as well.
At the domestic front, though, Bayern could face a tougher challenge from runners-up Borussia Dortmund, bannered by goal-scoring machines Jadon Sancho and Erling Braut Haland, and captain Marco Reus, Germany’s Footballer of the Year last season.
And with the big clubs from the rest of Europe aiming for its scalp, Bayern can expect an even more exciting season ahead.