Gegenpressing: The Bundesliga Podcast

Sign up for ad-free shows and bonus podcasts here! 

On this week's Gegenpressing podcast, Manu and Stefan discuss Borussia Dortmund's hard-fought victory over Heidenheim and whether Nuri Sahin's team impressed at the Westfalenstadion on Friday night. They then discuss Bayern Munich's emphatic win over Holstein Kiel and the continued struggles the promoted side face in the Bundesliga. Then they finish up by discussing Sunday's tasty encounter between Augsburg and St Pauli and breakdown why the Hamburg minnows have failed to pick up a single point in the league after three matches. Enjoy!

In this episode of the Gegenpressing Bundesliga podcast, hosts Manu Veth and Stefan Bienkowski preview the upcoming matches in the Bundesliga, focusing on key fixtures such as Dortmund vs. Heidenheim, Leipzig vs. Union Berlin, and Augsburg vs. St. Pauli. They discuss the contrasting styles and expectations of the teams, the implications of recent performances, and the pressure on coaches and players alike. The conversation highlights the excitement and unpredictability of the Bundesliga, setting the stage for an engaging weekend of football.

On this week’s bonus show, Manu is joined by Seb Stafford-Bloor from The Athletic to discuss Julian Nagelsmann’s first post-Euro 2024 Germany squad. The two break down every position and give their overall assessment and expectations from a new look Germany. They also discuss players that could potentially join this team in the short- and medium-term. Finally, they make their case that now, with the 2014 World Cup stars all retired, this is very much Jamal Musiala’s and Florian Wirtz’s team. Sign up to Gegenpressing now to listen to the full podcast.

On this week’s bonus show, Manu and Matt are joined by AFP correspondent Dan Wighton. The three dive into the new format of the UEFA club competitions. They discuss how this changes the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League and how it will impact the German clubs that play in those competitions. Finally, the three discuss the pros and cons of the new format for German clubs as they wonder whether it could entrench the Bundesliga in the same way as is the case in the Premier League. You can listen to the full episode on the Gegenpressing Substack.

On this week’s main show, Manu is joined by German freelance journalist Marie Schulte-Bockum. The two recap the first two matchdays before the international break and discuss the negatives and positives of a still very young season. Which clubs have disappointed, and which club stood out? They also chat about rising stars Assan Ouédraogo and Paul Wanner and wonder whether Leverkusen’s defeat has been overdue. Finally, they wonder, how do Heidenheim keep doing this? Listen for this and much more!

Manuel Veth and Stefan Bienkowski are back with a new format for the Bundesliga preview show. They discuss the new Champions League format and express their confusion and skepticism. They then preview the Union Berlin vs. St. Pauli match and discuss the differences between the two clubs. They analyze the performances of both teams in their first match and discuss the challenges they face. They also highlight key players to watch in the game. They discuss the potential of St. Pauli and their new coach Alexander Blessin, as well as the rise of young talent Paul Wanner from Heidenheim. They also analyze the impressive start of SC Freiburg under new coach Julian Schuster and their upcoming match against Bayern Munich. The conversation concludes with a preview of the match between VfL Bochum and Borussia Mönchengladbach, and the first-ever Bundesliga home game for Holstein Kiel against VfL Wolfsburg.

On this week’s main show Stefan and Manu are back for the Bundesliga matchday 1 recap, specifically discussing the Wolfsburg v Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund vs. Eintracht Frankfurt matches. The hosts analyze the performances of both teams and highlight the issues and positives they observed. They discuss Bayern Munich's lack of structure and defensive vulnerabilities, as well as Dortmund's professional and dominant display. They also touch on the tactical approach of Nuri Sahin and the role of Pascal Gross in Dortmund's midfield. The conversation ends with a discussion on Emre Can's role in the team. The conversation covers the performances of Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen in their opening matches of the Bundesliga season. The hosts discuss the reliance on Emre Can at Dortmund and the need for him to focus on his role as a defensive midfielder. They also analyze Leverkusen's performance against Borussia Mönchengladbach, highlighting the team's ability to create late chances and win games. The conversation touches on the importance of home stadium atmosphere and the challenges of sustaining high-intensity performances throughout the season.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Matchday 1 Recap

03:12 Analyzing Bayern Munich's Performance

15:39 Dortmund's Professional and Dominant Display

19:05 Nuri Sahin's Tactical Approach and Pascal Gross's Impact

26:27 Questioning Emre Can's Role in the Team

28:24 The Reliance on Emre Can at Borussia Dortmund

32:16 Late Chances and Winning Mentality: Bayer Leverkusen's Performance

35:23 The Influence of Home Stadium Atmosphere on Team Performance

46:14 Sustaining High-Intensity Performances Throughout the Season

In the first of three in-depth episodes previewing the new Bundesliga season, Manuel Veth and Stefan Bienkowski make their predictions for the top four spots and pick their potential champions.

On today’s show Stefan and Manu discuss the upcoming Bundesliga season and make predictions for the top four teams. They analyze Bayern Munich's chances and the challenges they face in the transfer market. The conversation also touches on the strengths of other contenders like Leverkusen, Dortmund, and RB Leipzig. The hosts express uncertainty about the top four finishers and acknowledge the competitiveness of the league. The conversation discusses the potential title contenders in the Bundesliga, focusing on Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig. The hosts analyze Dortmund's chances of winning the title, highlighting their signings of goal-scoring players and improved squad depth. They also discuss Leipzig's prospects, noting their strong squad and the importance of consistency. Leverkusen is mentioned as another top contender, with praise for their transfer window and ability to score late goals.

LISTEN TO THE FULL SHOW HERE

On this week’s bonus show, Manu and Matt kick things off to chat about Bundesliga ticket prices. After going through the 2023/24 ticket prices, they preview the biggest fixtures of the upcoming first round of the DFB Pokal. Could the likes of Bayern, Dortmund and Frankfurt stumble against lower division opponents? Finally, they chat about the DFL Supercup and wonder whether the Bundesliga should come up with a different format for the competition.

In this episode of the Gegenpressing Podcast, Manuel Veth and Stefan Bienkowski discuss the latest transfer news in the Bundesliga. They start by talking about Bayern Munich's failed pursuit of Désiré Doué and Xavi Simons, and how it reflects a trend of the club going after young talents from other leagues instead of developing their own. They also discuss the defensive issues at Bayern and the need to focus on strengthening the back line. The hosts then move on to discuss VfB Stuttgart's transfer activity, particularly their pursuit of another striker despite already having several options in that position. Stuttgart is actively looking to strengthen their squad before the start of the season. They have been linked with Armando Broja from Chelsea and Loic Bade from Sevilla. These signings would provide depth and options in both attack and defense. The club's transfer activity shows their ambition to compete in Europe and solidify their position in the Bundesliga. Leipzig, on the other hand, has made a quick signing in Antonio Nusa from Club Brugge to replace Dani Olmo. The club is focused on building a strong squad to challenge for the Bundesliga title. There is a sense of opportunity in the league with Bayern Munich being dethroned last season, and multiple teams, including Leipzig, believing they have a chance to win the title.