“Ones to watch” for Bundesliga Matchday 1 (New transfers edition)

“Ones to watch” makes a return for the Bundesliga season 2024/25! Good form, lucky match-up or just a special situation – here are five players you need to look out for on matchday 1 of the Bundesliga! Since it’s the first matchday, this article will focus on new Bundesliga transfers only.

1. Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)

Probably the stand-out transfer by the Bavarians this summer: Olise has the potential to become a great at the traditional Munich club. Even though he is not the most talkative football player (as his debut press conference has proven), Olise lets his actions speak for themselves: he scored ten goals and got six assists in the Premier League for Crystal Palace last season – while only having played 19 games!

Many Bayern Munich fans hope that Olise will be the successor of club legend Franck Ribery who was loved for not only his goal contributions, but also his playing style and his tricks on the pitch. Michael Olise is most definitely capable of filling his shoes, if he can stay fit for the whole season. His fans also believe that Olise can form a dream partnership with Bayern supertalent Jamal Musiala whom he got to know in the Chelsea academy many years ago. 

Bayern will play against Wolfsburg on matchday one. Ralph Hasenhüttl’s squad had a weak end to their 2023/24 season, losing their last two matches. While Wolfsburg were able to beat TuS Koblenz in the first round of the DFB Pokal in a 1-0 victory, they didn’t look too convincing in doing so. 

Arjen Robben once made his debut for Bayern in the Bundesliga against Wolfsburg and scored in their 3-0 victory – maybe Olise will be able to show his class as well!

2. Ermedin Demirovic (VfB Stuttgart)

The former FC Augsburg striker wanted a new challenge in the summer and will now be playing in the Champions League with Stuttgart. Demirovic was Stuttgart’s record breaking signing (until they made Deniz Undav’s transfer permanent) which shows how badly Sebastian Hoeneß wanted him.

Demirovic had a great individual season at Augsburg, contributing to 24 goals in 33 games. Since Stuttgart lost their very own “goal machine” in Serhou Guirassy to Dortmund, they will be hoping that Demirovic can fill his shoes now.

In the DFL Supercup final against Leverkusen Demirovic was not able to get his name on the scoresheet. However, Stuttgart under Hoeneß are a known attacking force (78 goals last season) who are able to create chances in every game – Demirovic will have enough opportunities to show his class.

Stuttgart are playing against Freiburg on matchday one – one of Demirovic’s former clubs. This could give him the extra motivation for a new and successful start at his new club.

3. Antonio Nusa (RB Leipzig)

RB Leipzig are known for getting the best new talents from all over europe – and they once again have found another. The 19 year old Antonio Nusa had a dream debut against RW Essen in the DFB Pokal: he scored one minute after coming on to help Leipzig to their 4-1 victory.

Last season, Nusa broke through at Belgian side Club Brugge, where he scored three times and assisted another three goals in 30 league games. His blistering pace is one of his stand-out qualities.

Leipzig is playing Bochum on matchday one who will be fighting against relegation for the whole season, as per many experts. This could very well be the time to make a statement! While Nusa ist unlikely to start the game, he most definetly showed his qualities when coming on as a sub – no matter for how long.

Olmo, Xavi, Szoboszlai, Nkunku… Leipzig rarely miss when signing new attacking midfielders, wingers and strikers. Nusa might just be their new talisman.

4. Pascal Groß (Borussia Dortmund)

Not only young players can have an exciting impact after a new transfer: Pascal Groß is gearing up to become Dortmund’s “quiet” transfer of the summer. Two assists on his debut game for Dortmund in the DFB Pokal against Phoenix Lübeck helped the team to secure a 4-1 victory.

Pascal Groß went under the radar for a long time in the Premier League for Brighton, many German fans and experts never considered him for a top club, let alone the national team – but Groß proved everybody wrong and got Nagelsmann’s attention just in time for the Euros in the summer.

The newly found attention secured him a transfer to one of Germany’s biggest clubs: Borussia Dortmund. And the “yellow wall” sees a new leader in the former Ingolstadt player.

Dortmund are playing Frankfurt on matchday one: maybe the most exciting game of the whole weekend in Germany. If Dortmund can beat a strenghtened Frankfurt side, Pascal Groß will have played a key role in doing so.

5. Keke Topp (Werder Bremen)

Have Werder Bremen found their Niclas Füllkrug replacement after over a year? Keke Topp has conquered the hearts of many Bremen fans over the last few weeks. The young striker “has Werder in his heart” and said so in many interviews.

Topp has played in Bremen’s youth sides for eight years, before he joined Schlake and their famous “Knappenschmiede”. He then became a shining light for Schalke in the 2. Bundesliga in a year full of disappointments for the “Königsblauen”. Then came Topp’s transfer to his boyhood club.

But his love for the club is not the only reason why Bremen fans love him: Topp scored a hattrick on his debut for Bremen in the DFB Pokal game against Cottbus (3-1 victory)! Bremen’s new number 42 will be eager to reaffirm his qualities in his very first Bundesliga game.

Werder Bremen play Augsburg in their opening game of the season. Augsburg are currently on a losing streak in the Bundesliga: they lost all of their last five games in the 2023/24 season! If Werder find a way to furthen this Augsburg streak, Keke Topp has a high chance of being the “culprit”.