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Defending champions Bayern Munich kick off their 2008-09 Bundesliga campaign when they face Martin Jol’s Hamburger SV on Friday.

Bayern huffed and puffed their way past Rot Weiss Erfurt in the first round of the DFB Pokal a few days back, and coach Jurgen Klinsmann would not have been pleased with his side’s defensive performance- they let in three goals against a third division side, and were saved the blushes thanks to a late goal from Toni Kroos. Klinsmann has chosen Mark Van Bommel as his skipper, and the former PSV midfielder is Bayern’s first non German captain. Bayern have a long injury list- Frank Ribery, Martin Demichelis, Hans Jorg Butt and Willy Sagnol are unlikely to figure. Midfielder Tim Borowski and defender Marcell Jansen are touch and go, while prolific striker Luca Toni has begun light training again. Breno and Sosa are in Beijing currently. There is definitely no lack of talent in this Bayern side- Klose, Podolski, Schweinsteiger and Lahm are all match winners. Klinsmann has worked with several Bayern players when he was the German coach, including the four above.

 

 

Hamburg finished fourth last season, but the loss of talismanic midfielder Rafael Van der Vaart may make it difficult to repeat that feat. Like their opponents, Hamburg too have a new man at the helm of affairs- Dutch coach Martin Jol. HSV’s defence was excellent last season , and Jol will hope that the back four ( Boateng, Kompany, Mathijsen and Reinhard) can keep up their performance. However, he may have to do without Vincent Kompany, who has reportedly refused to return to the club after Belgium’s second game at the Olympics. The hardworking Ivica Olic and his strike partner Paulo Guerrero will fancy their chances against the Bayern defence- especially if they are given the chances Erfurt were. Captain David Jarolim and Nigel de Jong form a strong midfield pairing.

Watch the German Bundesliga live as FC Bayern take on Hamburger SV. Remember folks, it is also Jurgen Klinsmann vs Martin Jol !!! Don’t miss the opportunity to catch Germany’s best club in action. Sign up with us today.