Bayern begins title defence against Werder Bremen

The German top-flight announced its full schedule for the 2016-17 campaign on Wednesday, with Bayern hosting Bremen to kick off the campaign in a Friday fixture on August 26.

Bayern Munich with the Bundesliga trophy.

Carlo Ancelotti's first Bundesliga match in charge of Bayern Munich will see the defending champion take on Werder Bremen at the Allianz Arena.

The German top-flight announced its full schedule for the 2016-17 campaign on Wednesday, with Bayern hosting Bremen to kick off the campaign in a Friday fixture on August 26.

Ancelotti has replaced Pep Guardiola following the former head coach's move to Manchester City and takes over a team which won the league by 10 points last season.

Last season's runner-up Borussia Dortmund is at home to Mainz, while the pick of the opening fixtures sees Borussia Monchengladbach host Bayer Leverkusen as the teams who finished fourth and third respectively last season go head-to-head.

Promoted club Freiburg starts at Hertha Berlin, while RB Leipzig's first Bundesliga match having risen through the leagues will see it travel to Hoffenheim.

Bayern's first match against rival Dortmund will take place at Signal Iduna Park on matchday 11 between November 18 and 20. The return match will take place on matchday 28 at the Allianz Arena between April 7 and 9, with the late-season clash potentially a crucial one in the title race.

Bayern has won 26 league titles – a record – with last season's success making it the first team to win four in a row.

 

Bundesliga 2016-17 opening day fixtures

Bayern Munich v Werder Bremen
Borussia Dortmund v Mainz
Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen
Hertha Berlin v Freiburg
Cologne v Darmstadt
Hamburg v Ingolstadt
Augsburg v Wolfsburg
Hoffenheim v RB Leipzig
Eintracht Frankfurt v Schalke