German champions Bayern Munich have been handed a tough start to the defence of their Bundesliga title after the full fixtures for the new season were released on Friday.

Bayern Munich won a record extending sixth successive league title last season and will begin the new campaign with a home game against fellow Champions League participants TSG Hoffenheim.

The game against Hoffenheim scheduled for Friday, August 24 will be new manager Niko Kovac’s first league game in charge of the Bavarian giants.

Niko Kovac was named Bayern Munich manager before the end of last season while the Croatian tactician was still at Eintracht Frankfurt whom he led to the 2017/18 German Cup title.

Borussia Dortmund and new manager Lucien Favre also have a tough opening fixture at home to managerless RB Leipzig.

Last season’s runners-up Schalke 04 will travel to VFL Wolfsburg in their season opener.

The new season’s first headline fixture – Der Klassiker – between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich takes place at the Signa Iduna Park in early November before the return fixture at the Allianz Arena in April.

Full Opening Week Fixtures:

Bayern Munich v TSG Hoffenheim

Borussia Dortmund v RB Leipzig

Borussia Moenchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen

Hertha Berlin v FC Nurnberg

Werder Bremen v Hannover 96

Freiburg v Eintracht Frankfurt

Mainz 05 v VfB Stuttgart

VFL Wolfsburg v Schalke 04

Fortuna Dusseldorf v Augsburg