Bayern Munich hosts Stuttgart in the launch of the Bundesliga

The German football Bundesliga kicks off today, with title holders Bayern Munich hosting cup runners-up Stuttgart on Friday. Bayern have pledged to build on last season’s achievements and target a treble, while their Bundesliga rivals have undergone restructuring in an effort to close the gap.

Backed by French midfielder Michael Olise and Colombian forward Luis Díaz, English striker Harry Kane led Bayern’s attack to a record 122 goals in 34 league matches. Under Belgian manager Vincent Kompany, the team secured the domestic double, thanks to Kane’s hat-trick in the cup final against Stuttgart, and lost only one of their 40 domestic matches.

The Bavarian giants faced no real resistance until the UEFA Champions League, where they were eliminated in the semi-finals by French champions Paris Saint-Germain, losing 5-6 on aggregate.

While Bayern strengthened their squad by signing Moroccan World Cup star Ismail Saïss and Nathaniel Brown, their potential rivals have made extensive changes. Both Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig have new managers, while Borussia Dortmund have spent generously on young talent in an attempt to compete for the title.

Bayern defeated Dortmund in last Saturday’s German Super Cup and appear eager for more ahead of a long season.

Several matches are also scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday: Elfsborg face Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig play Borussia Mönchengladbach, Mainz take on Paderborn, Union Berlin host Eintracht Frankfurt, Cologne meet Hoffenheim, and Dortmund face Hamburg.