The 2014/15 Bundesliga fixture list has been released and it will kick off on August 22 with a meeting between two German champions: reigning champion Bayern Munich and 2009 champion VfL Wolfsburg.
The first weekend also pits last season’s runner-up Borussia Dortmund against Champions League qualifier Bayer Leverkusen, while Schalke travel to play Hannover. The league’s newly-promoted teams Koln and Paderborn meet Hamburg and Mainz, respectively.
The first major match of the season comes in Matchday 2 where Schalke host holders Bayern Munich in this fixture last season at the Veltins finished 4-0 to the away side.
The two promoted sides (SC Paderborn and FC Köln) face off on Match day 3, which could bring a brilliant spectacle on the improvements, both sides have made since their promotion.
First fierce rivalry comes in Match day 4, newly promoted FC Köln will face Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Rheinlandderby, the reverse fixture will be played on Match day 21.
The most eagerly anticipated and arguably fierce derby on the Bundesliga calendar is the Revier Derby between Borussia Dortmund and Schalke, where the first match will be played at the Veltins Arena on Matchday 6 and the return fixture will be played on Match day 23.
Der Klassiker will be played on Match day 10 at the Allianz, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich met four times last season, two in the league, one in the Supercup and one in the DFB Pokal Finale. It finished 2-2 in wins for each side. In the 2014-15 season they face off in Matchday 10 and the final league game will be played on Matchday 27 where former Borussia Dortmund players Mario Götze and Robert Lewandowski return to their old stomping ground, the final Der Klassiker of the Bundesliga season could decide which hands the Bundesliga fall to.
The Nordderby between Hamburger SV and Werder Bremen was fiercely fought in the previous Bundesliga season, Werder Bremen done the double over their rivals whom were fighting for survival. This coming season the teams meet on Matchday 12 at the Imtech Arena and the return fixture will be played at the Weserstadion on Match day 29.
Bundesliga Matchday 1 Fixtures
FC Bayern München v VfL Wolfsburg
Borussia Dortmund v Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Borussia Mönchengladbach v VfB Stuttgart
1899 Hoffenheim v FC Augsburg
Hannover 96 v FC Schalke 04
Hertha Berlin v Werder Bremen
Eintracht Frankfurt v SC Freiburg
1. FC Köln v Hamburger SV
SC Paderborn v 1. FSV Mainz 05