German champions Bayern Munich will begin their defence of the Bundesliga title at home to Hamburg on Friday, August 14, after the fixtures for the 2015/16 season were announced.
Pep Guardiola’s side won 8-0 in last season’s corresponding fixture against Hamburg, who needed to beat Karlsruhe in a play-off to avoid being relegated from the Bundesliga for the first time.
Before the opening league game, Bayern will face Cup winners Wolfsburg in the Super Cup on August 1.
Bayern have romped to the title in each of the last two seasons, but club legend Franz Beckenbauer told Sky Sports: “I can see Bayern winning the title again but it will be more difficult this time.
“The opposition have now worked out the way Bayern play and are no longer as frightened when they come up against them.”
Thomas Tuchel’s first game in charge of Borussia Dortmund after replacing Jurgen Klopp will be at home against Borussia Moenchengladbach on August 15 or 16.
Bayern and Dortmund meet for the first time at the Allianz Arena on the first weekend in October in a clash with the end of the Munich Oktoberfest.
Dortmund will entertain Schalke in the first Ruhr derby of the season on the first weekend in November.
Last season’s runners-up Wolfsburg begin their campaign at home to Eintracht Frankfurt, who have Armin Veh back as coach to replace the departed Thomas Schaaf.
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The 2015/16 Bundesliga season will finish on May 14, 27 days before the start of Euro 2016 in France.
By AFP