Bundesliga kicks off
Last season's runners-up Dortmund have a tough first game against Bayer Leverkusen who will be buoyed by their midweek 3-2 win at Copenhagen for the Champions League qualifying round first leg.
They have winger Marco Reus back from an injury that saw him miss the World Cup as well as central defender Neven Subotic, who missed most of last season with a cruciate ligament tear.
But coach Juergen Klopp will miss injured Marcel Schmelzer, Oliver Kirch and midfielder Ilkay Guendogan, still working on his comeback after missing last season due to a back injury.
"In Dortmund they are talking about troubling Bayern and we in turn want to trouble Dortmund," said Leverkusen sports director Rudi Voeller.
Leverkusen boosted their squad with striker Josip Drmic, hugely talented midfielder Hakan Calhanoglou and Brazilian Wendell and their attacking spirit was more than evident against Copehangen on Tuesday when they came from 2-1 down to win.
Schalke 04, third last season, want to make amends for their shock German Cup exit this week against third-tier Dynamo Dresden, with coach Jens Keller already under pressure even before they face Hanover 96 in their season opener.
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