Bayern expected to win sixth straight title

BERLIN: Bayern Munich kick off the new Bundesliga season on Friday with the coaches of 13 of their 17 rivals expecting them to dominate again -- although Usain Bolt’s recent shock defeat is being used as inspiration.

Bayern host Bayer Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena in the season opener, with the Bavarians the overwhelming favourites to win the title.

In a survey by AFP subsidiary SID of the 18 coaches in Germany’s top flight, the overwhelming consensus is that Carlo Ancelotti’s Bayern will claim a sixth straight league crown.

Jamaica’s Bolt could only settle for bronze over 100m behind Justin Gatlin at the IAAF World Championships in his final individual race before retiring in London.

In the last decade, Bayern have won the Bundesliga title seven times -- five of which have been on the spin since 2012. They finished 15 points ahead of secondplaced RB Leipzig last term.

“Our required standard is to win the Bundesliga title,” said Bayern president Uli Hoeness bluntly.

According to the SID survey, only Borussia Dortmund’s new boss Peter Bosz, Hoffenheim’s Julian Nagelsmann and Stuttgart’s Hannes Wolf opted not to say which name they think will be engraved on the trophy for 2017/18.

Leverkusen’s Heiko Herrlich was the only coach who tipped Dortmund, the last team to break Bayern’s stranglehold in 2011/12, to be champions. But his was a lone voice.Bayern have strengthened their squad by signing midfielders Corentin Tolisso from Lyon and James Rodriguez from Real Madrid. —