Bayern out to defend their lead

Saturday Schalke 04     vs     FC Augsburg    15:30    Nurnberg     vs     Dortmund Hoffenheim     vs     Frankfurt Bremen     vs     Hamburg SV Leverkusen     vs     SC Freiburg

Friday, August 31, 2012

SaturdaySchalke 04     vs     FC Augsburg    15:30    Nurnberg     vs     DortmundHoffenheim     vs     FrankfurtBremen     vs     Hamburg SVLeverkusen     vs     SC FreiburgF Düsseldorf     vs     M’gladbach    18:30    SundayWolfsburg     vs     Hannover 96    15:30    Bayern     vs     Stuttgart    17:30    BERLIN - Although the season is just one game old, Bayern Munich are wthere they want to be - at the top of the Bundesliga table.After ending a disappointing trophy-less season a few months ago, the club embarked on an ambitious drive to strengthen their team in an effort to deny Borussia Dortmund a hat-trick of Bundesliga titles.The team from the Bavarian capital signed striker Mario Mandzukic from VfL Wolfsburg, while Peruvian international Claudio Pizarro returned to the club from Werder Bremen.Swiss international Xherdan Shaqiri and defender Dante joined from FC Basle and Borussia Moenchgladbach respectively.On Wednesday Bayern officials broke the German transfer record when they signed Spanish international defender Javier Martinez from Athletic Bilbao for €40 million.