Football Season Guide

Bayern Munchen lifted a record fifth successive Bundesliga title last season but Carlo Ancelotti's first campaign in charge will be seen as one of the weakest for the German giants in recent times. Bayern were pushed hard by surprise title challengers RB Leipzig while an early exit from the Champions League and a semifinal defeat in the DFB Cup meant that Ancelotti was not able to maintain Bayern's dominance from the last few seasons. Ancelotti will be hoping for a far more successful campaign this time around but will have to do so without two of his most experienced players after Philipp Lahm and Xabi Alonso both announced their retirements at the end of the last campaign. With no replacement for Lahm signed so far, Ancelotti looks to be putting his faith in Rafinha but Bayern do lack suitable depth in that position should the Brazilian pick up an injury and. Joshua Kimmich can also play at right-back but the 22-year old has been usually deployed in the midfield or the centre of the defence. Bayern have splashed the cash in the transfer window once again, with Corentin Tolisso their biggest outlay and he is expected to replace Alonso while Niklas Sule and Sebastian Rudy will offer cover in the centre of the defence and midfield respectively. James Rodriguez's arrival on loan offers Ancelotti a more rounded option in the final third of the pitch with Douglas Costa being shipped out on loan to Juventus. Bayern had also bagged the signature of Serge Gnabry after the midfielder impressed for Werder Bremen last season but was immediately loaned to Hoffenheim. Despite shuffling the squad, Ancelotti has been able to hold onto most of his core players and Bayern do have enough quality to dominate on the domestic front but it will be in Europe where Ancelotti will be judged once again.