5 bold predictions for the 2015-16 Bundesliga season

There are still plenty of surprises to come during the upcoming Bundesliga season, even if the title winner has already been decided.

Here are five bold predictions that could surprise football fans this season:

Wolfsburg closes gap on Bayern Munich

The days of Bayern Munich winning the title with weeks to spare are over.

While the defending champions may very well make it four in a row by the time May rolls around, VfL Wolfsburg will give Bayern a run for its money during an exciting race to the finish line.

Last year’s runner-up should see the momentum from a strong 2014-15 campaign carry over into the new season, with the possibility that Wolfsburg will be on Bayern's heels right up until the 34th and final fixture.

Borussia Dortmund misses out on Champions League again

Borussia Dortmund will surely enter the new season with high hopes and a belief that this season won’t be anything like the horror show fans were subjected to last year. Yet the team’s quest to return to a Champions League spot will not come to fruition, despite an improved year.

It’s not that new manager Thomas Tuchel is to blame or that the club has failed to replace the talent its lost over the years, but, rather, that the competition among the top seven teams will be fierce, with Dortmund ultimately coming up short.

Bas Dost wins scoring title

The Bundesliga will have a new scoring champion, with Bas Dost continuing his torrid pace to lead all scorers.

The Dutch striker will improve on last season’s impressive tally, when he found the back of the net 16 times - including one stretch when he scored seven goals in three matches - and earn the distinction of being the first Dutch player to lead the Bundesliga in scoring since Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in 2012.

Although Max Kruse’s arrival could limit opportunities, Wolfsburg will likely stay faithful to the man that helped it complete a thoroughly impressive campaign last season.

Pep Guardiola leaves Bayern Munich at season's end

Thanks for the memories, Pep Guardiola.

The Spanish boss will call it quits after the season when Bayern Munich fails yet again to win silverware on football’s biggest stage.

The team’s failure in the Champions League might be out of his hands with the possibility of another onslaught of injuries derailing Bayern’s chances, but Guardiola may look at the situation as being better suited for another manager.

Even if the country’s most successful team wins the tournament, and possibly a treble, Guardiola could still be on his way out as he searches for the next challenge.

FC Schalke 04 finishes third behind Bayern and Wolfsburg

A revamped FC Schalke 04 outfit will bounce back following a disappointing sixth-place finish to reclaim its place in the top four of the Bundesliga table.

Julian Draxler's health, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's return to form, and the influx of talent Schalke procured in spending roughly €30 million on summer signings will be vital in ensuring a Champions League berth.