Dortmund chief not expecting to challenge ‘overwhelming favourites’ Bayern

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Borussia Dortmund president Hans-Joachim Watzke believes Bayern Munich are “overwhelming favourites” for the Bundesliga title this season.

Bayern faced little resistance on their way to the league title last term, finishing 16 points clear of second-place Dortmund while scoring a competition record 122 goals.

Kompany became the fourth manager to win the Bundesliga in each of his first two seasons, after Ernst Happel, Hansi Flick and Pep Guardiola, while Bayern have won the league in 13 of the last 14 seasons.

Bayern have further strengthened their squad this summer, signing Ismael Saibari and Nathaniel Brown, while Harry Kane is set to extend his stay at Allianz Arena.

Dortmund, meanwhile, have invested in youth, with Giannis Konstantelias, Konstantinos Karetsas and Joane Gadou all joining Niko Kovac’s squad.

Bayern have already got one over their rivals this season, winning 2-1 in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, and Watzke expects much of the same in the Bundesliga.

“Well, you have to be honest, we had a good Bundesliga season last year and picked up 73 points,” Watzke told Sky Germany.

Only  more days until the Bundesliga is BACK.  pic.twitter.com/HtMYS2Gln1

— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) August 26, 2026

“In the past, that would have been enough to win the title. Today, that’s no longer the case because FC Bayern dominate everything.

“At Dortmund, there’s only so much we can do to change that, because the gap between Germany’s top two clubs has become so vast economically.

“So we shouldn’t kid ourselves – Bayern Munich are overwhelming favourites.”

Dortmund begin their Bundesliga campaign on Saturday, hosting Hamburg at Signal Iduna Park.

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