[Trim]

Bayern handed tricky start

Jurgen Klinsmann faces a tough start to life in charge of Bayern Munich after they were paired with Hamburg on the opening day of the season.

Bayern will meet the northerners on August 15 at the Allianz Arena in what will also be Martin Jol's first game in charge of Hamburg.

The remaining Bundesliga fixtures take place over the rest of the weekend with the pick of the games seeing Schalke host Hannover, Borussia Dortmund go to Bayer Leverkusen and 2007 champions Stuttgart visit last season's 2.Bundesliga title-winners Borussia Monchengladbach.

The schedule does not get any easier for Klinsmann, who succeeded Ottmar Hitzfeld in the Bayern hotseat, in week two as Bayern visit arch-rivals Dortmund.

The Bavarians finish their campaign at home to Stuttgart in what Bundesliga officials will no doubt hope will be a title decider.

Jol's first home game pits Hamburg against newly-promoted Karlsruhe.

TSG Hoffenheim's first game in the top tier will be away to Energie Cottbus and they face a tough closing match at Schalke, the week after they host Bayern Munich.

They will look forward to travelling to the Allianz Arena on December 6.

Cologne, who bounced back after just one year out of the top division, will travel to Wolfsburg on the opening day of the season and end by entertaining Bochum.

TeamTalk