Bayern Munich led the Bundesliga from start to finish last season and they have the chance to put themselves in pole position again on Friday.Jurgen Klinsmann's first league game in charge is a north-south clash at home to Hamburg, the only side to have been in the top flight of German football since its inception.

The reigning champions have yet to beat Hamburg in three games at the Allianz Arena.

Klinsmann knows that a good start is crucial on Friday night as only seven teams have lost their opening fixture and gone on to claim the Bundesliga crown.

"We want to make a positive start," proclaimed Klinsmann.

"We will do everything to ensure Hamburg lose for the first time in the Allianz Arena."

The rest of the Bundesliga will be hoping for an away win though, as every point Bayern drop will be seen as a bonus to their challengers.

That includes last year's runners-up Werder Bremen, regarded by many as the only team who can seriously challenge Bayern this season.

They start their campaign at Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday.

Bielefeld are widely tipped to go down this season, but after defying the odds for the past three years could yet again maintain their top-flight status.

When the sides met last season, though, Bremen hammered the East Westphalians 8-1 and a similar score would be the ideal start for Schaaf's men.

Schalke came third last season and, with new coach Fred Rutten, are bidding to win the Bundesliga title for the first time in their history.

They welcome Hannover to the Arena AufSchalke on Saturday.

Wolfsburg could also be in contention and Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness believes they could be a credible threat.

He is worried that former Bayern coach Felix Magath, now in charge of the Wolves, is building a side that will challenge the top clubs this season.

"I think Wolfsburg are an outside bet this season," he told the Bild newspaper.

"They can be a surprise team who nobody reckons with and I have faith in them finishing in the top five."

The Wolves start the season at home to newcomers Cologne on Saturday.

Cologne finished runners-up in the second division last season behind champions Borussia Monchengladbach and the aim for both clubs will be to try and establish themselves in the top flight.

Monchengladbach kick-off their season against Stuttgart on Sunday.

The third side emerging from the second division last season have never been in the Bundesliga before.

Hoffenheim have financial backing from millionaire owner Dietmar Hopp which could see them challenging for a place in Europe next season. They begin their campaign against Energie Cottbus on Saturday.

Europe is the target for Bayer Leverkusen, who host Borussia Dortmund, and Hertha Berlin, who travel to Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.

Finally, Karlsruhe and Bochum meet at the Wildpark Stadion looking to start the season as positively as they did last year. Karlsruhe won 2-0 at Nurnberg while Bochum held Bremen to a 2-2 draw.

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