Listen to the full show on Substack or on our YoutTube channel.

On the first bonus show of the week, Manu and Stefan sit down to discuss the biggest transfer stories in the Bundesliga. They kick things off by breaking down the big news of the week: Erik Ten Hag is the new Bayer Leverkusen head coach. Will the former Ajax and Man Utd boss be the ideal replacement for Xabi Alonso at the BayArena? The duo then turn to two other managerial changes, as Werder Bremen parted ways with Ole Werner and Augsburg sacked Jess Thorup in favour of local lad Sandro Wagner. Will both clubs finally climb out of mid-table with smart managerial appointments or could these risky moves push them back towards relegation? They then wrap up the show by discuss new reports linking Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo to Bayern Munich and break down whether the Dutch talent would be a smart signing by the Bundesliga champions or little more than a runners-up medal in the chase for Florian Wirtz. Enjoy!

In our final main episode of the season, we dive into a dramatic weekend in German football as Stuttgart claim the DFB Pokal and Heidenheim secure their Bundesliga status in the relegation play-offs. Manu reflects on a whirlwind road trip across Germany, taking in matches and soaking up the culture, culminating in a remarkable final at Berlin’s Olympiastadion. We break down how Stuttgart tactically dismantled Arminia Bielefeld in a 4-2 win, praise Sepp Hoeneß for salvaging the club’s season, and reflect on the broader implications of Stuttgart’s title win for their long-term trajectory.

Then it’s off to the Saarland, where Elversberg’s fairytale push for promotion ended in heartbreak at the hands of a pragmatic and clinical Heidenheim side. We dissect Frank Schmidt’s honest post-match reaction, credit Leo Scienza and Paul Wanner for their decisive moments, and consider what might lie ahead for both clubs. Alongside all of that, we take time to acknowledge the incredible fan culture surrounding both fixtures, Bielefeld’s inspiring run to the final, and what these moments might mean for each club’s future.

In the final preview podcast of the season, Manu and Stefan sit down to discuss the coming German Cup final between Arminia Bielefeld and Stuttgart. While the lower-league minows may go into the clash in Berlin as notable underdogs, the pair breakdown Bielefeld’s remarkable run through the competition and explain why “Die Arminen” will be more than a match for their Bundesliga counterparts on the day. They then move on to Stuttgart, breaking down what’s gone wrong from Sebastian Hoeneß’s side in the German top-flight this season and whether they can muster enough talent from their battered and bruised squad to finish the season with the ultimate piece of silverwware. Enjoy!

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On the second bonus show of the week, Manu and Stefan hosted a live show with their Substack subscrubers and Youtube members to answer as many questions as they could within the hour. That included:

Following a mad final matchday in both the Bundesliga, and 2. Bundesliga, Manu is joined by Matt Ford to break it all down from the RheinEnergieStadion in Köln. The two kick off the show recapping 1. FC Köln’s return to the Bundesliga. They then move on to chat about Borussia Dortmund’s remarkable comeback under Niko Kovac. Is the Croatian the coach of the season? Then they chat about Bayern Munich and their final game against Hoffenheim. Was the press unfair criticizing the team’s trip to Ibiza? Enjoy!

On the final Bundesliga preview show of the season, Manu and Stefan sit down to discuss the biggest talking points from German football this weekend. They kick things off by breaking down the two matches that will decide the final top four in the Bundesliga, as Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt lock horns, while Borussia Dortmund look to avoid any hiccups against a tricky Holstein Kiel. They then turn their attention towards the 2.Bundesliga, where FC Köln will face off with Kaiserslautern to see which of the two clubs will finally realise their dreams of promotion to the top flight next season. Enjoy!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and look ahead to the weekend

06:55 Dortmund vs. Kiel: Pressure and Expectations

12:40 Freiburg vs. Frankfurt: Champions League Implications

18:41 FC Köln vs. Kaiserslautern: Promotion Battle

35:16 The Dynamics of Bundesliga Promotion and Relegation

38:18 Final Thoughts

Takeaways

On this week’s Gegenpressing preview show, Manu and Stefan kick things off by taking a look at HSV’s clash with Ulm in the second division and the prospects of the old giant of German football finally winning promotion back to the Bundesliga after seven years. They then turn their attention towards Freiburg’s trip to Holstein Kiel and breakdown why the Storks have put up such a good fiight in recent months. They then wrap up the show by discussing RB Leipzig’s showdown with Werder Bremen and why Ole Werner’s team are on the cusp of qualifying for Europe. Enjoy!

In this episode of the Bundesliga podcast, hosts Manuel Veth and Stefan Bienkowski discuss the conclusion of the Bundesliga title race, focusing on Bayern Munich's triumph and Harry Kane's first trophy in Germany. They analyze the season's context, player performances, and the impact of coach Vincent Kompany. The conversation also touches on the challenges Bayern may face in the future and the significance of Kane's achievement in relation to his career.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Trophy Talk

09:49 Vincent Kompany's Coaching Impact

12:36 Player Performances and Key Contributions

15:33 Challenges Ahead for Bayern Munich

31:04 The Challenge of Next Season

40:47 Harry Kane's First Title and Its Significance

Manu and Stefan were back for the Bundesliga preview show (a day late due to travel), and there’s plenty to unpack. Here’s your weekly conversation-style recap from the pod:

Stefan: “And Harry Kane won’t be on the pitch, which just writes its own jokes.”

Still, Kane and Eric Dier will get their first career trophies if Bayern wrap it up. Stefan joked Dier could do a John Terry and show up in full kit at full-time.

Stefan: “Bayern won’t delay the title for sentimental reasons. They’ll get it done.”

Both agree this season’s been mixed for Bayern, but Kompany has done the job that matters: reclaiming the Bundesliga title.

Stefan: “They’re up against it. Orban and Gulácsi are out. Without them, they’re hopeless.”

Leipzig are under pressure from Dortmund and Freiburg. Without Champions League qualification, they may need to sell key players like Xavi Simons.

Stefan: “They’ve been sleepwalking for years. Leverkusen’s rise is forcing them to wake up.”

Manu: “The issue isn’t ambition. It’s their failure to find the right formula.”

The coaching situation is also in focus. Manu and Stefan suggest Leipzig need to make a bold hire — maybe Sandro Wagner or Cesc Fàbregas.

Stefan: “Julian Schuster has actually improved on Streich’s work.”

Freiburg are two points ahead of Leipzig. Despite struggling against top-four teams this season, they have a chance to change that now.

Stefan: “They need to break the curse. If you want to be top four, you have to beat top-four clubs.”

They’ve signed a replacement for Ritsu Doan and could have Noah Atubolu back in goal — a major boost. Manu also explained why Freiburg shouldn’t be considered a small club anymore.

Manu: “Freiburg’s greater metro area is bigger than Dortmund. They’re a sleeping giant with real infrastructure now.”