The 2012-13 Bundesliga season kicks off August 24, but before the action gets underway TSN.ca is helping you catch up and what you might have missed over the summer.
Find out which big names have changed kits and what might become the biggest storylines of the upcoming campaign.
Check back in tomorrow for a preview of the upcoming season in Italy's Serie A and be sure to also check out our Barclays Premier League and La Liga previews.
Player Additions:
Borussia Dortmund made the biggest splash of the off-season lifting Marco Reus from Borussia Monchengladbach for a 17 million-plus euro transfer fee. The team also boosted its attack with the additions of German midfielder Leonardo Bittencourt and Julian Schieber.
The team fell victim to foreign interests, however, losing key midfielder Shinji Kagawa to Manchester United.
Bayern Munich was aggressive on all sides of the pitch, upgrading at striker, midfield and on the back end. The team plucked Mario Mandzukic from Wolfsburg in its biggest move (12 million euros), added Swiss midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri from Basel (as well as Germany U18 midfielder Mitchell Weiser from the relegated Cologne) and got Brazilian defender Dante from Monchengladbach.
The fourth-place Monchengladbach opened the vault, shelling out a combined 34.5 million euros on Paniel Mlapa, Atletico Madrid defender Alvaro Dominguez, Basel midfielder Granit Xhaka and Dutch attacker Luuk de Jong.
Schalke added midfield depth with the free transfers of midfielders Roman Neustadter and Tranquillo Barnetta, but its more pressing business is locking down key striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar before he's allowed to hit the open market at season's end. The team also pulled out of pursuit of Spurs midfielder – and Huntelaar's countryman - Rafael van der Vaart.
Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, focused on its back line, signing Philipp Wollscheid and Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal.
Marquee Match-Ups:
August 24 – Werder Bremen vs. Borussia Dortmund: The Bundesliga celebrates its 50th season with two of its founding clubs facing off on opening day. The reigning champions will get their first test of the season as the Green and White look to make up for a disappointing season that saw them finish out of UEFA's top international competitions.
September 23 – Borussia Monchengladbach vs. Bayer Leverkusen: With FC Cologne getting relegated, the Rhine derby becomes a head-to-head affair in 2012-13. Monchengladbach went from the verge of relegation to the cusp of a Champions League spot in the span of just one year forcing Leverkusen to go through Europa.
February 9 – Schalke vs. Bayern Munich: The number two and three finishers in the league in 2011-12 face off in their lone Munich date on the back half of the schedule. Schalke was blanked 2-0 in both meetings with Bayern last season, so if they are to compete for the crown this year, a strong showing will be necessary, particularly on the road.
Continental Hope:
Is there a more disappointed club in the world heading into this season than Bayern Munich? Getting stunned on penalties by Chelsea in their own backyard in last year's final was heartbreak enough. But the summer wasn't kind to many of the highest profile Reds.
Arjen Robben, who famously flubbed a potentially-golden penalty in last year's final, was a key member of the Dutch team that completely flamed out at Euro 2012. Meanwhile, the likes of captain Philipp Lahm, keeper Manuel Neuer and veteran Bastian Schweinsteiger will be burdened by their failure to bring Germany a continental title despite entering the tournament as favourites.
Schalke may find its 2011-12 Champions form, and Dortmund must certainly be better than the club that one just one Champions match last season, but if a German side is to conquer the continent once again, it'll likely have to be Bayern.
Lots to Prove: Schalke needs to prove they can put together two consecutive successful seasons. The team finished behind the powerhouses from Munich and Dortmund last season after finishing just four points above relegation in 2010-11. That season, while mired by Bundesliga mediocrity was lifted by the team's Champions League semifinal appearance.
The team has finished third, 14th, second, eighth and third in the last five seasons respectively. So, what's it to be in 2012-13? Can they finally find consistency? Or, will the team wilt once more after a banner year.
