Soccer
Ilkay Gundogan believes Bayern Munich will storm to the Bundesliga title for the third straight season.
Bayern have won the league title in both of their campaigns under Vincent Kompany so far, finishing 13 points clear of Bayer Leverkusen in 2024-25 and 16 points ahead of Borussia Dortmund last term.
In that time, Bayern have only lost three top-flight matches, as well as scoring 221 goals across both seasons.
Dortmund had attempted to mount a title challenge in the second half of the 2025-26 campaign but ultimately were unable to put any real pressure on Bayern.
Kompany’s men are the favourites to claim the title once more, and Gundogan, a Bundesliga winner with Dortmund in 2011-12, does not believe the other teams will be able to get close to them.
“Bayern will have no trouble and will march through the league again this season,” he told Sky Sports Germany.
“FC Bayern is the ultimate team in Germany. Honestly, with this constellation of coach, players, and officials, I don’t see the potential for anything to go completely wrong at Bayern right now, in a way that could benefit Borussia Dortmund, for example.
“I see Bayern as a very, very serious contender to win the Champions League.”
Tegernsee Throwback.
Two years ago, Vincent Kompany’s first training camp began at Lake Tegernsee – the start of a special journey. pic.twitter.com/IHw01AGshv
— FC Bayern (@FCBayernEN) July 26, 2026
Gundogan began his career in the Bundesliga and registered his first assist in the competition against Bayern with Nurnberg in September 2009 before scoring his first goal in the reverse fixture.
Nurnberg currently play in the second tier of German football, and though Gundogan has not ruled out a return to his former club, he has no intention of leaving Galatasaray in the near future.
“To be perfectly honest, I’m not exactly keen on playing in the second division again, although it is a very demanding league,” Gundogan said when asked about a return.
“I have great respect for it. But you also have to consider where I am right now. I’m at a club that plays in the Champions League, and I feel very, very comfortable at this level.
“But you can also develop projects – for the future as well. I still have very close ties to Nurnberg because the club is, of course, still very close to my heart. I’m very grateful to the club and the city.
“Of course, I can imagine returning at some point, in whatever role. Whether that’s for a year or two as a player, or as an administrator or coach. Anything is possible. But you have to have in-depth discussions if you’re going to consider this topic, in order to work out the best solution for everyone involved.”
On his future at Galatasaray, he added: “I don’t want to plan beyond this year at the moment.
“As things stand, I would like to continue, preferably at Gala, because I feel very comfortable here. But that also depends on many variables.”
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