theScore's comprehensive predictions for the 2015-16 Bundesliga season

With the new Bundesliga season finally here, theScore has called upon a pair of footy editors to predict which clubs and players will have a season to remember, and which others will be left with nothing but the cold, lonely feeling of disappointment.

Title Winners

Gordon Brunt: Any team other than Bayern Munich being crowned as Bundesliga champions next May would be an absolute shock. The defending champs look poised to capture an unprecedented fourth consecutive title thanks to a revamped squad capable of offsetting an injury crisis similar to that of last season.

Gianluca Nesci: Bayern Munich. Duh.

Champions League Qualification

Gordon Brunt: Bayern Munich, VfL Wolfsburg, FC Schalke 04, Bayer Leverkusen. Forget the league title, the chase for a berth in the Champions League will be the most exciting race in Germany this season. Unfortunately for Borussia Dortmund supporters, this will be not their year once again. Last season's biggest Bundesliga disappointment will come up short for a second campaign running, while Schalke returns to its spot in the top four.

Gianluca Nesci: I agree with three of the four picks that my colleague has listed above. My one change, however, does indeed see Dortmund bounce back from last season - when a mixture of injuries, defensive ineptitude and just plain bad luck conspired against the club - and return to the top four (at the expense of Schalke). Borussia Monchengladbach will ensure that the race for a coveted Champions League berth runs six teams deep.

Relegated Clubs

Gordon Brunt: FC Ingolstadt, SV Darmstadt 98. While FC Ingolstadt's rise to the Bundesliga since the club was founded in 2004 has been nothing short of impressive, its first stint in Germany's top flight will be brief. The same can be said of SV Darmstadt 98, as the team's 33-year wait will likely see them face relegation after 34 games.

Gianluca Nesci: The glass slipper won't fit this season. Romantic as the stories of both Ingolstadt and Darmstadt have been until this point - with each club's meteoric rise to Germany's top flight being nothing short of spectacular - the reality is that neither will be able to make the leap in quality necessary to remain in the Bundesliga for another year. That said, I'd be very happy to be proven wrong here.

Player of the Year

Gordon Brunt: Marco Reus will finally manage to stay healthy for a full season and claim the league's top individual honour thanks to a growing set of skills few players can match. His contributions on the pitch will be the highlight for a surging Borussia Dortmund club looking to bounce back from last season's horror show.

Gianluca Nesci: Seeing as how Mr. Brunt stole my pick, I'll go with Thomas Mueller. The lanky, versatile German attacker remains intrical to Bayern Munich's plans despite the signing of Douglas Costa, and will continue to see ample amounts of playing time as the bodies of both Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben continue to break down before our eyes. Though some may argue that new, talented players in the squad could see Muller's numbers take a hit as the scoring wealth is distributed throughout the team, I'll go in the other direction and say the club's new players only help aid Muller en route to the best statistical season of his career.

Best Signing of the Season

Gordon Brunt: The most polarizing transfer of the summer will prove to be the the best of the season. What a novel idea. Arturo Vidal's impact on Bayern Munich will be unlike any other signing when his class and tenacity in the midfield helps the defending champions capture silverware once again.

Gianluca Nesci: Johannes Geis. While the likes of Vidal and new teammate Douglas Costa will get most of the attention by virtue of the shirt they are now wearing, I'm extremely excited to see how the 21-year-old midfielder adapts to life at Schalke. Arriving at the club from Mainz for a reported fee of €10 million plus bonuses this summer, the defensive midfielder turned down the likes of Borussia Dortmund in favour of the Veltins-Arena, and Schalke supporters will be very pleased with that decision by season's end.

Most Excited About

Gordon Brunt: Wolfsburg is fully capable of living up to the high expectations it created after last year's superb runners-up performance. Kevin De Bruyne will be expected to shine once again on a club loaded with talent as he and his teammates attempt to close the gap on Bayern. Even if he leaves before the transfer window closes, Wolfsburg is loaded with talent and shouldn't suffer too much of a dip in form.

Gianluca Nesci: Watching Thomas Tuchel reinvigorate Dortmund. Already known for playing a blistering counter-attacking style that relied on an aggressive system of high-pressing under departed manager Jurgen Klopp, expect Tuchel to both elevate that to another level and use his tactical flexibility to ensure that the club isn't one-dimensional this season. Defenders everywhere be aware, you won't get a second to relax with the ball at your feet when Tuchel and Dortmund come to town.