On Friday night I found myself back occupying the same commentary position where I ended last season just three months ago.

There is no better place than the Allianz Arena, a spaceship-like stadium that gives the impression of having made its own landing just off the A9 Autobahn to the north of Munich.

The Bundesliga returned from its summer break seeking gravity, as Bayern hosted Hoffenheim. It certainly carried more resonance to be able to legitimately call the league that of the world champions. Germany’s shock early exit in Russia was far from ideal for those of us who love our football in packed Bundesliga stadia accompanied by the distinctive beer and bratwurst atmosphere.

From its nadir around Euro 2000, German football delivered quite the impressive fightback, with academies all over the country showing the rest of the world how to properly educate young players. It might not have enjoyed the riches of Premier League clubs or Spain’s big two, but the Bundesliga represented a leaner, meaner machine, well aware of its considerable strengths.

Last week in Frankfurt, a summit meeting was held involving all the big decisions-makers in German football. Ostensibly this was to address the World Cup debacle but also to provide a chance for reflection on the realpolitik of Europe’s current set-up.

English clubs are finally starting to spend their money wisely and strategically after years when many wasted it away, while Real Madrid, Barcelona plus Atletico remain at the top of the continental tree. Serie A, for years, was trailing the Bundesliga but the signing by Juventus of Cristiano Ronaldo and a spirited challenge to Juve by Napoli last term have caused many to revise their opinions about football in the peninsula. In France, a club like Paris Saint-Germain, thanks to their Qatari investment, can attract a world star like Neymar.

Bayern of course, are atypical of their rest of the Bundesliga. They can afford to outspend all their domestic rivals, while regularly poaching from them, as the rest might see it. The latest example, Leon Goretzka, who left Schalke for the Isar at the end of the last campaign.

That Bayern have won the Meisterschale in each of the last six seasons is a well-known fact. For some reason it has become fashionable to condemn the whole league on this basis. Never mind that the standard remains higher than in most top divisions around Europe and the stories around the various clubs, engaging. But I will accept that the Bundesliga is crying out for a challenge of some sort. Might it come this season?

I believe the gap will close and there is a chance for Dortmund, Schalke, Leverkusen and Leipzig to make a run. It will perhaps take them all to contribute, bringing to mind the early ’80s in Scotland when Aberdeen and Dundee United almost needed each other to successfully break the shackles of the Glasgow pair.

Bayern, rather than clearing out and freshening up this generation, are by and large sticking by their squad from last season. The tigerish Arturo Vidal has left for Barcelona but the 30-something “Robbery” partnership (Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery) signed on for one more year. Robert Lewandowski, who wanted a move in April, is now feeling the love again and will stay.

I particularly like what Bayer Leverkusen have done, acquiring exciting Brazilian winger Paulinho and ex-Frankfurt goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky, sadly injured right now, but perhaps an even better keeper than Bernd Leno, who departed for Arsenal. Then you have youngsters still in place such as Leon Bailey, Julian Brandt and the brilliant Kai Havertz. It will not surprise me if Heiko Herrlich’s side finish second and snap at the heels of Bayern.

Borussia Dortmund needed radical change and it has arrived. A new coach in the well liked and innovative Lucien Favre, a return to the club for Matthias Sammer as external advisor and a host of new signings. Abdou Diallo, Axel Witsel, Thomas Delaney and Marius Wolf all have the capacity to enrich. US international Christian Pulisic remains one of the most eye-catching talents in the European game. Marwin Hitz might well outperform his fellow Swiss international Roman Burki in goal.

Schalke finished above their Ruhr rivals last time round and second overall, playing safe but effective football. Their youthful and previously little-known coach, Domenico Tedesco, deserved all the plaudits that came his way, showing an understanding of his players that had eluded his predecessors. Having raked in £33 million from PSG for Thilo Kehrer, Schalke have tried to cannily improve the balance of the squad. Omar Mascarell, previously at Frankfurt on loan from Real Madrid, could end up being a key piece of the royal blue jigsaw puzzle put together by sporting director, Christian Heidel.

Leipzig, who travel to Dortmund in the top match today, are undeniably fascinating to many who follow the league peripherally. Ralf Rangnick, the man at the heart of the sporting concept at the club, is filling in as coach for this season only while they wait for Hoffenheim’s Julian Nagelsmann to join once his contact is up next summer. Already Rangnick has been making noises about the difficult start, given the demands of Europa League qualification.

There are challenges for all but I am not sure the Bundesliga need sing the blues. It is still the best fan experience anywhere in Europe and it knows exactly what it is.

You will not find German football copying its Spanish counterpart and staggering 10 league games over 10 different times slots over a weekend. Nor will they be staging top-division matches in the US, or anywhere other than Germany. Likewise there will be no end to the 50+1 rule that prevents takeovers by oil rich sheiks or oligarchs.

“Football as it’s meant to be” is the Bundesliga’s international slogan. Everything is cyclical and if the clubs can get their collective thinking caps on as they did nearly 20 years ago, the future of German football can again be bright, while staying organic.