The Bundesliga has always been dominated by European superpower Bayern Munich, so much that the league has faced criticism for not being competitive and being labelled as a “farmers’ league” with the only recognised competition over recent years being Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen, the latter who snatched the title off Munich in 2024 and ended their 11-year title-winning streak.
This year, the real competition is happening in the Champions League race, with four teams all fighting for a spot in Europe’s most prestigious competition, with only five points separating the four teams for the potentially two remaining spots for the German teams. With only five games remaining in the season, everything is up for grabs to determine whether each club can be considered to have had a successful season.
Top two spots almost secured
The German giants Bayern Munich currently sit top of the pile, miles ahead of the chasing pack. Munich are sitting 12 points off second, with the potential of securing the title in their next game. Manager Vincent Kompany started his era at Bayern quite shakily, losing out on the title to Leverkusen, but since then Bayern have snatched their throne back, and Kompany and his men are within fingertips of back-to-back titles. Their summer signings of Luis Diaz and Michael Olise have paid off brilliantly, with the two players having a whopping 56 G/A between the two of them, with Star striker Harry Kane up top with 37 G/A of his own.
Borussia Dortmund currently sit in second, where they tend to always find themselves, being 12 points away from Bayern, but eight points away from the chasing pack. A topsy-turvy season for the black and yellow side, starting their season under-performing but picking up form towards the latter stages, only losing twice in the league since October 2025. Dortmund have their eyes set on another season in the Champions League, with the potential of securing another spot in their next game.
The chasing pack
3rd place: VfB Stuttgart, 56 points
VfB Stuttgart currently sit in third place, on 56 points, only narrowly ahead of fourth on goal difference. They finished ninth in the Bundesliga last season, but grabbed a spot in the Europa League due to their DFB Pokal win last season. The side finished 11th and beat Celtic 4-2 on aggregate in the play-off phase but were knocked out by FC Porto in the round of 16.
They have only lost one out of their last eight, and a statement 4-0 win over Hamburg has proven they are more than fighting for Champions League qualification next season.
Former Brighton striker Denis Undav has been the key to their success this season, with 18 goals and five assists in the league. He finds himself the second top goal scorer in the Bundesliga, only behind the formidable Harry Kane.
They have a tough run-in, playing two of the four teams in and around the side against Leverkusen and Hoffenheim back-to-back, but sitting four points ahead of fifth position, they are the most favourable to secure one of the remaining Champions League spots.
4th place: RB Leipzig, 56 points
Leipzig are currently sitting in fourth, on the same points as Stuttgart, and holding on to the last possible position to secure Champions League football for another season. The side is starting to become a regular in the competition, having competed six times out of the last possible seven.
Their season hasn’t been plain sailing; however, the loss of star striker Benjamin Sesko, who was sold to Manchester United for 76 million euros, the loss of their talented attacking midfielder Xavi Simons to Tottenham for 65 million euros and Lois Openda to Juventus on loan meant they lost three of their most attacking threats.
The Red Bulls season, despite the outgoings of some of their key players, started the season well, only losing one in their first nine. Since they have been quite inconsistent, dropping a series of points from January onwards putting them at risk of a top four spot.
Despite this, Leipzig have won their last three games and are proving that they are not backing down and deserve a top-four place. Their star player this season has been their central midfielder, Christoph Baumgartner, who has 12 goals and 7 assists for the side, making him the highest goal scorer for a midfielder in the league.
5th place: Bayer Leverkusen, 52 points
Leverkusen have had a rocky season compared to the two previous. After winning the Bundesliga and going unbeaten in 2024, they finished second the year after, in the summer of 2025, they lost their manager, Xabi Alonso and numerous key players who were key to their success, such as Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Granit Xhaka, Jonathan Tah, Piero Hincapie and Victor Boniface in January.
They finished 16th in the Champions League and beat Olympiacos in the play off round, but eventually lost to Arsenal in the round of 16. Their start to the Bundesliga was horrific to their standard, winning only one in five and sacking new manager Erik Ten Hag after just three matches in charge.
Despite this, they have almost turned their season around and made a statement in their last game, winning 1-0 away at second-place Dortmund. It’ll be an uphill task for them to finish in the top four, with Bayern Munich and top four contenders Stuttgart and Leipzig still to play in their remaining five.
Their standout player this season has been their experienced left wing back Alejando Grimaldo, who has eight goals and seven assists in the league this season. His free-kick specialism has also caused some special goals for the side as well.
6th place: Hoffenheim, 51 points
Hoffenheim are the surprise package in the race, sitting five points away from a Champions League spot, the side have a difficult task on their hands to reach the top four.
They haven’t played Champions League football since the 2018/19 season, when they were knocked out in the group stage, not winning a single game. Since then only playing in the Europa League twice, but not getting further than the round of 32.
Hoffenheim went 14 games with only one loss from October to January but since their 5-1 loss to Bayern Munich in February, they have been inconsistent in performances and struggling to pick up points, having only picked up two from their last possible 12.
They also have a reasonably tough run-in, having to play Dortmund and Stuttgart, but they will hope their home advantage in both games will be able to bring them back closer to securing Champions League football once again.
One of their most important players this season has been ex-West Ham full back Vladimir Coufal, who has registered seven assists in the league, along with long-serving striker Andrej Kramaric, who has scored ten goals for them this season.
All to play for
With five games remaining in the Bundesliga, the Champions League race is wide open. Only five points separate the four teams battling it out for those two open spots in the top four.
With all teams having tough run-ins, whilst each team has to play their competitors in the run-in, it is impossible to predict who will snatch up a season in Europe’s most prestigious competition, the Champions League.
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