There was disappointment for FC Bayern on Thursday as they fell to defeat to Guangzhou Evergrande - © © gettyimages / Alexander Hassenstein
There was disappointment for FC Bayern on Thursday as they fell to defeat to Guangzhou Evergrande - © © gettyimages / Alexander Hassenstein

2015/16: Day 23 of pre-season

xwhatsappmailcopy-link

Cologne - While FC Bayern München were falling to their first defeat of pre-season against Guangzhou Evergrande on Thursday, the other 17 Bundesliga clubs were working tooth and nail to raise their fitness levels ahead of the big kick off.

As ever, bundesliga.com will keep you posted on all the clubs’ pre-season preparations…

Thanks and bis morgen!

That brings to an end the current edition of our live pre-season bulletins, but make sure you join us again tomorrow for all the latest from the 18 Bundesliga club's 2015/16 preparations!

Bayern's big "Thank you"

Bayern München just sent out this tweet to thank China and the city of Guangzhou - from where the Bundesliga champions flew off to return to Germany tonight - "for an eventful and stunning week".

Hoffenheim get-together

Seems like the 1899ers are enjoying a nice relaxed evening as they prepare for the new season in northern Europe...

Markus Gisdol's side will be out on the pitch again tomorrow, with training sessions scheduled for 10 CEST (8 GMT) and 17 CEST (15 GMT).

Bayern heading home

Following a rather exciting one-week tour of China that included trips to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, Bundesliga World Tour 2015 representatives Bayern München will be making their way back to Munich shortly.

David Alaba (front r.), meanwhile, made a very special birthday gift to birthday boy Sinan Kurt, who turned 19 today...

Sahin running again

Good news for Borussia Dortmund and Nuri Sahin, as the Germany-born Turkey midfielder made another step in his quest to return to full fitness after missing large parts of last season.

Check out these snaps from day 5 of Dortmund's Bad Ragaz (Switzerland) training camp which included a bit of football tennis:

Bremen's golf day!

And don't Franco Di Santo, Jannik Vestergaard and Felix Kroos look smart?! They'd get onto The Open course with their pristine Werder polo shirts.

Day of firsts

New Hamburg attacker Michael Gregoritsch, who the Red Shorts signed from VfL Bochum earlier today and has been described by HSV sporting director Peter Knäbel as a true "gem", had his first training session with the only ever-present Bundesliga club this evening.

Happy new recruit

Here's more from Wolfsburg's new signing Carlos Ascues...

Downstream

While Bayern were rushing to the airport to catch their flight back to Munich, Bundesliga rivals Hertha Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt were both trying their hands at two different sports...

Positive summary

Despite losing the last game of three on their travels, Bayern coach Pep Guardiola was able to look back on a positive pre-season tour which even exceeded his expectations...

Defeated on penalties

FC Bayern have lost the final friendly of their China tour, going down 5-4 on penalties to FC Guangzhou.

Transfer news

Second signing in two days for Wolfsburg, who have secured the services of Peruvian international Carlos Ascues on a three-year deal.

Acrobatic

Not bad… more of the same when the Bundesliga season gets underway, please!

Change of pace

All proceeds are going to charity, of course…

Half-time changes in Guangzhou

Pep Guardiola has made five changes at the interval. Still goalless between FC Bayern and Guangzhou in China.

We’re ready!

This is quickly becoming a tradition among Bundesliga clubs… Hertha are the latest side to go water rafting this pre-season.

Bayern go close

Sebastian Rode has gone within a whisker of giving FC Bayern the lead against Guangzhou, but it remains goalless.

Media duties

Translation: Alexander Zorniger addresses the media after Stuttgart’s lunch break in St. Gallen.

Underway!

Bayern’s match with Guangzhou has just kicked off, but Medhi Benatia has picked up a knock and has been replaced in the starting XI by David Alaba.

Warming up

The players are warming up and the stadium is filling up in Guangzhou…

On the mend

Gladbach youngster Nico Elvedi has been recovering from a knee injury, but the 18-year-old did manage to do some light jogging on Thursday afternoon.

Heading south

Hannover 96 have arrived in Saalfelden, Austria, as the Reds embark on the next phase of their pre-season preparations.

Team news!

Here’s the line-up for FC Bayern’s friendly against Guangzhou this afternoon:

In action

Jeong-Ho Hong and his Augsburg colleagues are currently in Walchsee, Austria, preparing for their first ever European campaign.

No messing about

New Schalke signing Sascha Riether has already joined Sidney Sam and the rest of his new Schalke team-mates on the training ground.

Live and breathe football

That is the ideal scenario for Bayer 04 Leverkusen's Karim Bellarabi...

Jairo: 'We must improve'

Despite taking pleasure in scoring, 1. FSV Mainz 05's Jairo Samperio admitted they still have a lot of work to do after losing to AS Monaco on Wednesday. 'Defeat to Monaco yesterday. We need to improve and we'll do that by working hard. Here's a video of my goal.'...

Cause for concern?

Stuttgart have reported that Daniel Didavi had to end training early on Thursday due to an ankle problem. A subsequent Tweet from the Swabians tried to allay fears of it being serious: 'It's no big deal. Just like with Martin Harnik, who had to stop due to an aggravated knee tendon' reads the second Tweet...

Schalke sign Sascha

Not only training is on the agenda for Schalke, who on Thursday morning confirmed the arrival of Sascha Riether on a free transfer from SC Freiburg...

And here is Sascha Riether with the returning Sidney Sam arriving for training on Thursday...

Meanwhile, Schalke's sporting director Horst Heldt has confirmed Jefferson Farfan has been given permission to leave this summer...

Many happy returns!

Sinan Kurt is celebrating his first-ever birthday in China...

...although maybe his cake is not the ideal nutrition for a professional footballer's diet...

Werder at work

Werder Bremen have arrived for their first training session of the day, with the focus apparently on tactics rather than fitness (and having fun)...

Hard at work

Stuttgart are getting warmed up in St Gallen (Switzerland)

Getting the goals in place

Meanwhile, Eintracht Frankfurt are ensuring an important piece of equipment is in place for their latest training session...

Up with the birds

Like Frankfurt, Bayer 04 Leverkusen are also in Austria - in Zell am See to be precise. They too are up early before the sun gets too hot...

No rest for the wicked, or Köln

Köln were in action in a friendly on Wednesday night, but that does not mean they get to put their feet up on Thursday morning...