Dortmund open against Hamburg

Champions Borussia Dortmund will open their Bundesliga title defence at home against Hamburg on August 5, the German Football League (DFL) announced yesterday. “It’s an exciting opening fixture against Hamburg, a club that failed to live up to...

Champions Borussia Dortmund will open their Bundesliga title defence at home against Hamburg on August 5, the German Football League (DFL) announced yesterday.

“It’s an exciting opening fixture against Hamburg, a club that failed to live up to expectations last season but against whom we have some great battles,” said Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc.

Jurgen Klopp’s side will first meet Schalke 04 in the German Super Cup on July 4 and 23, and will then face some stiff tests against Bayer Leverkusen in the fourth round of the Bundesliga and Europa League contenders Hanover two rounds later.

Dortmund’s clash with the Bundesliga’s most titled club, Bayern Munich, will take place on round 13 with the return leg in mid-April.

Bayern Munich, who finished third last season, will open their campaign at home against Moenchengladbach, who narrowly escaped the drop last term.

Europa League contenders Mainz 05 will host second-placed Bayer Leverkusen in their opener for the season which will end on May 5, 2012.

Promoted Hertha Berlin and Augsburg, making their Bundesliga debut, feature in the top flight next season while Frankfurt and St Pauli have dropped to the second division.

Opening programme
B. Dortmund vs Hamburg
W. Bremen vs Kaiserslautern
Hanover 96 vs Hoffenheim
Mainz vs Bayer Leverkusen
Stuttgart vs Schalke 04
Cologne vs Wolfsburg
Augsburg vs Freiburg
Hertha Berlin vs Nuremberg
B. Munich vs Bor. M’gladbach

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