After the success of German football last year, and the arrival of Pep Guardiola in Munich this year, interest in the Bundesliga has never been as high as it is now.
With some of the most fan friendly ticket prices in Europe, and an entertaining style of play across the league, it is not difficult to see why so many people like watching the Bundesliga.
And those fans are in for a treat with the release of the 2013-14 fixtures today. The 51st Bundesliga season kicks off on 9 August with a classic: Bayern Munich v five-time German champions Borussia Mönchengladbach at the Allianz Arena.
The opening weekend promises plenty of action beyond the Friday evening encounter, with newly-promoted Eintracht Braunschweig set to host their first Bundesliga match in 28 years when SV Werder Bremen travel to the Eintracht-Stadion. Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund begin their title challenge away to FC Augsburg, while UEFA Europa League participants SC Freiburg travel to UEFA Champions League side Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
As a result of winning the Champions League last season, Bayern will take part in the FIFA Club World Cup in December. As a result, their Matchday 17 fixture has been pushed back to either the 28 or 29 January 2014. So for the first time, the first half of the season will only be completed after the winter break. The winter break is scheduled to begin on 23 December with action restarting on the weekend of 24 January.
Dortmund and Bayern will go head to head in a potentially crucial end-of-season clash at the Allianz Arena in round 30 while the Champions League finalists meet in Dortmund on the weekend of November 22.
The DFB Pokal final will take place on May 17.
