Bundesliga Clubs Prepare for New Season with Mixed Vibes Ahead of DFB-Pokal
As the kickoff for the 2026/27 Bundesliga season approaches in just a week, Germany’s top 18 teams are gearing up for their first major challenge in the DFB-Pokal this weekend. Fans are eager to assess the readiness of their clubs—will the new season bring excitement or turmoil?
Overall, only one major concern has emerged for Germany’s leading clubs during the summer. Despite suffering a defeat in Wiesbaden with a significant portion of the squad unavailable, many teams have navigated the off-season smoothly. Players such as Brown and Saibari are expected to add versatility to the lineups, while stars Kane, Díaz, and Olise are anticipated to make substantial goal contributions. However, fitness issues around Jamal Musiala remain a slight worry.
At Signal Iduna Park, the atmosphere is upbeat, with Borussia Dortmund fans celebrating the appointment of their new sporting director as “Don Ole.” The club secured a 3-2 friendly victory against Arsenal, although some supporters express uncertainty regarding the new tactical style under coach Kovač. Vibe barometer: 7/10
RB Leipzig begins the season with questions after finishing third last year. The replacement of coach Ole Werner with Martín Demichelis and the departure of top scorer Yan Diomande to Real Madrid have sparked concern among fans. The team must now secure a replacement to uplift the mood, particularly following a 2-0 loss to Leeds. Vibe barometer: 5/10
VfB Stuttgart has seen positivity with news of Sporting Braga’s hefty nine million euro bid for Jovan Milosevic, maintaining a successful squad with the addition of promising talents like Dzenan Pejcinovic and Leo Sauer. The status of Ermedin Demirovic remains a key question, but overall, spirits are high. Vibe barometer: 8/10
In Kraichgau, TSG Hoffenheim celebrates a robust transfer budget after selling Bazoumana Touré for 50 million euros and has invested in young talents such as Nathan De Cat. However, heavy losses to Gladbach and Tottenham highlight that financial strength alone may not ensure success. Vibe barometer: 6/10
Bayer Leverkusen’s pre-season matches, aside from a loss to Nottingham, have generated optimism, but the team remains in flux with a new coach and numerous personnel changes. Fans hope for a fortunate turn as they approach the season opener. Vibe barometer: 6/10
SC Freiburg, meanwhile, is adopting a quiet strategy, managing the departure of standout player Johan Manzambi effectively while strengthening the squad with Japanese players. A recent friendly win against Crystal Palace boosts their confidence, though the situation surrounding Noah Atubolu requires attention. Vibe barometer: 8.5/10
Eintracht Frankfurt faces a challenging situation following a heavy 7-0 defeat to Brentford, with lingering issues in the goalkeeper position and defense. There is a belief that the team’s quality will prevent severe trouble, yet a more positive outlook would significantly benefit morale. Vibe barometer: 3/10
Augsburg, hit by defeats against English teams in the summer, still retains an optimistic outlook due to low expectations and a mostly intact squad. Vibe barometer: 6/10
Mainz fans are feeling positive after the retention of Nadiem Amiri and smart signings such as Ransford Königsdörffer, which contribute to an upbeat atmosphere ahead of the new season. Vibe barometer: 7.5/10
Union Berlin has struggled recently, undergoing a poor pre-season with losses, and new coach Mauro Lustrinelli is yet to see his methods yield results. The arrival of Swiss World Cup star Michael Aebischer may provide much-needed inspiration. Vibe barometer: 4.5/10
Borussia Mönchengladbach, after a disappointing season, has made significant changes, bringing in ten new players while letting go of twelve. Promising pre-season results and the return of Tim Kleindienst have improved the overall mood. Vibe barometer: 7/10
Hamburger SV appears revitalized compared to last year, bolstering their squad with exciting signings, although unresolved issues remain, including replacing Luka Vuskovic. Vibe barometer: 6.5/10
Cologne fans are celebrating as their star player Said El Mala extends his contract. However, concerns about sustaining fitness and the potential for turmoil as the season unfolds linger. Vibe barometer: 8/10
Werder Bremen enters the season under some scrutiny, yet a sense of optimism has emerged after recent signings aimed at addressing past turbulence. Vibe barometer: 4/10
Meanwhile, FC Schalke 04 possesses a palpable excitement returning to the Bundesliga after three years in the second division. Despite facing a daunting challenge to remain in the league, enthusiasm among fans remains high. Vibe barometer: 8.5/10
SV 07 Elversberg has garnered attention with a young and dynamic squad showcasing an attacking style. While there may be tough matches ahead, the current atmosphere around the team is vibrant. Vibe barometer: 8.5/10
SC Paderborn has shown promise during the summer, though their squad has weakened since the promotion. Awareness of their situation may help them navigate the challenges ahead. Vibe barometer: 6/10
As clubs assess their vibes ahead of the new season, fans are willing to share their thoughts on the prospects for their teams.
Soon the wait will finally be over: the 2026/27 Bundesliga season kicks off in just one week!
But Germany’s 18 best teams will already face their first real test this weekend in the DFB-Pokal.
But what’s the state of your favorite club, really? Can’t the season start soon enough? Or is a year full of chaos and crisis looming? We’re doing the vibe check!
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With the exception of a defeat in Wiesbaden, when more than half the squad was still missing, Germany’s top team came through the summer without any real issues. Brown and Saibari make the side even more flexible, and it already feels certain that Kane, Díaz, and Olise will once again combine for close to 100 goal contributions. The only slight concern is Jamal Musiala’s fitness.
Vibe barometer: 7/10
The mood around Signal Iduna Park has definitely been worse. BVB fans are already celebrating their new sporting director as “Don Ole,” and there’s plenty of Sirtaki dancing going on too. And as if that wasn’t enough, they also picked up a 3-2 friendly win over Arsenal. The only thing many supporters still seem unsure about is Kovač-ball…
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Vibe barometer: 7.5/10
Despite finishing a strong third last season, RB Leipzig head into the new campaign with a few question marks. On the touchline, Ole Werner has been replaced by Martín Demichelis, and top scorer Yan Diomande was given wings by Red Bull and flew off to Real Madrid. The mood in Saxony will ultimately depend heavily on whether they sign a replacement. The 2-0 defeat to Leeds certainly didn’t help…
Vibe barometer: 5/10
The news that Sporting Braga are reportedly paying a hefty nine million euros for Jovan Milosevic has noticeably lifted spirits around Swabia. That said, the vibe around VfB was already far from bad. Last season’s successful team has been kept almost entirely intact and strengthened with exciting youngsters like Dzenan Pejcinovic and Leo Sauer. The only open question is what happens with Ermedin Demirovic.
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Vibe barometer: 8/10
If money really brings happiness, then they should be dancing on the tables in Kraichgau. After all, TSG had a tidy transfer budget after selling Bazoumana Touré to Newcastle for 50 million, and they invested it in exciting talents like Nathan De Cat and Adam Daghim. But money alone isn’t everything. The heavy defeats against Gladbach and Tottenham made that pretty clear.
Vibe barometer: 6/10
Aside from a defeat to Nottingham, Leverkusen’s pre-season matches have definitely whetted the appetite for more. Still, the Bayer setup is on somewhat shaky ground. There’s a new coach in Carles Martínez, the squad has seen plenty of change, and more arrivals and departures are still to come. So ahead of the season opener, Leverkusen feel like a lucky dip — one that, with a bit of luck, could turn out to be a lot of fun.
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Vibe barometer: 6/10
Once again, there’s not much sign of the usual summer transfer frenzy in the peaceful Breisgau. Freiburg are quietly going about their business and have cushioned the departure of breakout star Johan Manzambi with plenty of Japanese power. The recent 3-0 win over Crystal Palace also gives reason for optimism. Only the Noah Atubolu situation could really do with being resolved soon.
Vibe barometer: 8.5/10
📸 Maja Hitij – 2026 Getty Images
How good can the mood really be after a 7-0 debacle against Brentford? Especially with the goalkeeper position and the defense still causing headaches. The only good news is that the team and coach should simply be too good to get into serious trouble. Still, some positive news would do the Eintracht camp more than a world of good.
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Vibe barometer: 3/10
FCA also got spanked twice by English teams during the summer break. Even so, the mood is better than in Frankfurt. That’s partly due to much lower expectations and partly because the successful squad from the second half of last season has been kept together almost entirely — and even strengthened in sensible ways.
Vibe barometer: 6/10
Nadiem Amiri is staying! That news alone put Rheinhessen in a party mood. Smart, and above all free, signings like Ransford Königsdörffer and Eric Martel also gave the atmosphere a boost. The friendly results have been encouraging too, leaving Mainz fans genuinely excited for the start of the season.
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Vibe barometer: 7.5/10
Things haven’t exactly been going smoothly for Union in recent months. A poor second half of last season has now been followed by an even weaker pre-season, including defeats to Jena and Dresden. So far, new coach Mauro Lustrinelli’s approach doesn’t seem to be bearing fruit. Maybe the signing of Swiss World Cup star Michael Aebischer will help.
Vibe barometer: 4.5/10
Borussia Mönchengladbach
After a largely botched season last year, Gladbach have done a major clear-out. The Foals brought in no fewer than ten new signings and let twelve players go. Since the overall pre-season results were promising and Tim Kleindienst is finally back, the overall mood is clearly better than it was a year ago. Can Eugen Polanski win over his many critics?
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Vibe barometer: 7/10
HSV also looked much better this summer than they did a year ago, when all the alarm bells were already ringing at the Volkspark. The Red Shorts made some exciting signings and also have one or two interesting talents in their ranks. Still, there are unresolved issues, and Luka Vuskovic still needs to be replaced. Signing Fabio Vieira would, of course, trigger a real mood boost.
Vibe barometer: 6.5/10
📸 Alex Grimm – 2026 Getty Images
1. FC Köln
Right now, every football fan in Cologne is probably dancing, because the club’s biggest star is staying for at least another year. Said El Mala has extended his contract and sparked pure joy. But will he stay fit for the whole season? A lot in the relegation battle could depend on the answer to that question. The squad is young and very talented in parts, but overall it’s something of a lucky bag. Coach René Wagner also still has to prove he’s cut out for the Bundesliga. Right now, it’s all vibes — but a brutal hangover could be coming. Carnival, after all.
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Vibe barometer: 8/10
If you listen to neutral fans, Werder currently seem to be the biggest worry in German football. Many Bremen supporters themselves, however, appear a bit more optimistic after the signings of Reis, Dinkci, and Füllkrug. Still, after some turbulent months, the Green-Whites are clearly heading into the new season carrying baggage — especially the sporting leadership.
Vibe barometer: 4/10
FC Schalke 04
If you look purely at anticipation, no club in the Bundesliga is probably in a better place. After three long and painful years in the second tier, everyone connected with Schalke is absolutely buzzing for the new season. Not even the occasional heavy friendly defeat changes that. In Gelsenkirchen, everyone already knows that staying up will be a brutally tough task.
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Vibe barometer: 8.5/10
SV 07 Elversberg
The promoted side from the Saarland provinces showed in pre-season that they are definitely a team to watch. Elversberg have put together a young and exciting squad capable of playing thrilling attacking football. The downside: there will be matches in which SVE get absolutely hammered. For now, though, the mood is outstanding.
Vibe barometer: 8.5/10
SC Paderborn
SC Paderborn also didn’t make a bad impression this summer. Still, the squad is weaker than it was in the promotion season, which is rarely a good sign. On paper, that makes the East Westphalians the number one relegation candidate. The good news: everyone in Paderborn already knows that too.
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Vibe barometer: 6/10
Do you agree with our assessments? How do you see the mood around your club? Let us know in the comments!
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.
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