FRANKFURT, GERMANY (AP) – Bayern Munich will start its title defence at Werder Bremen in the opening game of the new Bundesliga season, continuing one of Germany’s longest-running rivalries, after the schedule was announced on Friday.
The game on August 18 will be the 113th time that Bayern and Bremen have met in the Bundesliga, the most frequent fixture between two clubs since the league began in 1963.
Before that, Bayern hosts German Cup winner Leipzig in the Super Cup on August 12.
Borussia Dortmund, which lost out to Bayern on goal difference for the title last season, starts its new campaign at home to Cologne on either on August 19 or 20.
The first “Klassiker” of the season between Bayern and Dortmund will be played at Dortmund’s stadium on either November 3, 4 or 5, according to the schedule. The second “Klassiker” in Munich is listed for either March 30 or 31.
Newly promoted Heidenheim’s first-ever top-division game will be at Wolfsburg on August 19 or 20. The other promoted team, Darmstadt, visits its local rival Eintracht Frankfurt the same weekend.
