Taking the first step towards a potential 12th straight title, Bayern Munich kick off their Bundesliga campaign on Friday, when Werder Bremen play hosts to Germany's perennial champions.
Following their humbling defeat in the DFL-Supercup, Bayern have a point to prove at Weserstadion, where they have won on their last 14 visits and Werder accrued the lowest number of home points in the league last season.
Match preview
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Following a pre-season period which commenced with a 27-0 win and encompassed a quick trip to Japan and Singapore, Bayern Munich returned to competitive action last week, with RB Leipzig their opponents in the DFL-Supercup.
Thomas Tuchel's side suffered a shock 3-0 loss to the DFB-Pokal winners in German football's curtain-raiser, as headline-grabbing arrival Harry Kane made his debut as a second-half substitute soon after the completion of his transfer from Tottenham Hotspur.
As Bayern attempt to recover from such a setback and start their pursuit of a 12th straight league crown with a win, the England captain is set to make his first start on Friday night, when the Bavarian giants meet their favourite opponents.
Unbeaten against Werder Bremen in 31 competitive matches - winning 27 times in the process and racking up nearly a century of goals - Die Roten's last loss in this fixture came back in September 2008.
Furthermore, Tuchel - who led Bayern to top spot by the skin of their teeth on the final day of last season - has won his last nine matches against Werder, which is a streak that stretches back to 2013.
Despite a decline in performances, last term Bayern were once again Germany's best away team, picking up 33 points on the road en route to pipping Tuchel's former club Borussia Dortmund to the title; meanwhile, Bremen posted 10 home defeats.
As the reigning Bundesliga champions have not lost their first fixture in any of the past 21 years, precedent is certainly stacked in Bayern's favour, then, ahead of the clubs' clash on opening night.
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Indeed, Werder Bremen have not won the first game in any of their last eight Bundesliga seasons, and they have lost more league matches against Bayern Munich than against any other team - a total of 60 and counting.
Towards the end of last season, Die Grun-Weissen suffered a slim 2-1 home loss to the Bavarians, as they ultimately finished 13th on their return to the top flight.
Ole Werner's men were only three points clear of a relegation playoff spot, as they won just one of their last 12 Bundesliga fixtures and lost eight to end the 2022-23 campaign in dismal style.
Returning to competitive action with another loss last week, 10-man Werder were knocked out of the DFB-Pokal by 3. Liga side Viktoria Koln; conceding three goals in the final 20 minutes, including a stoppage-time strike which consigned them to a 3-2 defeat.
A battle for survival could be on the cards, then, with Bremen again relying on Niclas Fullkrug to fire them to safety - the Germany striker finished last term as the Bundesliga's joint-top scorer on 15 goals.
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Team News
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Having scored Bayern Munich's title-winning goal on a dramatic final day last season, Jamal Musiala is set to link up with star signing Harry Kane for the visitors on Friday evening: in 2022-23, only Frankfurt's Randal Kolo Muani managed more goal involvements (26) than either Musiala (22) or Bremen's Niclas Fullkrug (21).
Kane - who netted 213 goals in 320 Premier League matches before moving to Bavaria - joins Kim Min-jae and Raphael Guerreiro as Bayern's new boys in a squad now missing Sadio Mane, Yann Sommer and Lucas Hernandez. Guerreiro is set to miss out with a calf problem, though.
Konrad Laimer has also arrived on a free transfer, and the Austria international will battle it out with Leon Goretzka for selection in central midfield. Meanwhile, first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Neuer remains on the sidelines, so Sven Ulreich steps into the breach following Sommer's exit to Inter.
Though Werder Bremen brought in Naby Keita from Liverpool earlier this summer, the former Leipzig midfielder is now unavailable due to a groin injury sustained in pre-season.
Amos Pieper was sent off in last week's cup defeat, and while his subsequent suspension does not apply on Friday, club captain Marco Friedl should replace him in the hosts' back three.
Poland international Dawid Kownacki is another new arrival, and the former Sampdoria striker could provide support for Fullkrug up front.
Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:
Pavlenka; Veljkovic, Stark, Friedl; Weiser, Bittencourt, Stage, Jung; Kownacki, Ducksch; Fullkrug
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Ulreich; Pavard, Kim, De Ligt, Davies; Kimmich, Laimer; Sane, Musiala, Gnabry; Kane
We say: Werder Bremen 1-3 Bayern Munich
Although they made a rare slip-up last weekend, Bayern's squad seems more formidable than ever, as a host of internationals jostle just for a place on the bench. If they can click into gear quickly, feeding Harry Kane with the right service, goals are sure to follow - therefore, a 15th straight win at Weserstadion surely awaits.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
