Bundesliga 2019-20 fixtures: Bayern Munich host Hertha in season opener

Bayern Munich will launch their Bundesliga title defence with a home match against Hertha Berlin.

That match gets the campaign under way on Friday, August 16, and was announced when the new season’s fixtures were released on Friday.

The champions head to Schalke on the second weekend before returning to the Allianz Arena to face Mainz.

Borussia Dortmund, who faded badly in the second half of last term, could field new signings Thorgan Hazard and Nico Schulz in their first outing at home to Augsburg.

Lucien Favre’s side then meet two promoted sides in Cologne and Union Berlin. Union Berlin’s top-flight debut begins with a visit from Julian Nagelsmann’s RB Leipzig.

#FCBayern will open the 2019/20 season against @HerthaBSC_EN at the #AllianzArena on 16th August #FCBBSC pic.twitter.com/68tkNSTrJZ

— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) June 28, 2019

Leipzig’s other early opponents include Europa League semi-finalists Eintracht Frankfurt and a team that narrowly missed out on the Bundesliga top four in 2018-19, Borussia Monchengladbach.

Dortmund kept the title race alive until the final day last season and will view their two Der Klassiker dates against Bayern as crucial to mounting another challenge.

The initial encounter takes place in Bavaria between November 8 and 10, with the reverse fixture scheduled for April 3-6.

Before then – on the last weekend in October – comes the first Ruhr derby as Dortmund look to atone for their costly April loss to close rivals Schalke.

Other opening weekend fixtures see Bayer Leverkusen entertain promoted Paderborn, with Werder Bremen welcoming Fortuna Dusseldorf.

Former Huddersfield Town manager David Wagner goes to Gladbach for his first Bundesliga match in charge of Schalke.

So it shall begin 

Which encounter catches your eye? pic.twitter.com/CpjCIBoFrg

— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) June 28, 2019

Bundesliga 2019-20 opening round in full:

Bayern Munich v Hertha Berlin
Borussia Dortmund v Augsburg
Bayer Leverkusen v Paderborn
Borussia Monchengladbach v Schalke
Wolfsburg v Cologne
Eintracht Frankfurt v Hoffenheim
Werder Bremen v Fortuna Dusseldorf
Freiburg v Mainz
Union Berlin v RB Leipzig