Gladbach beat Leverkusen 2-1 for the second time in just over three months.
Gladbach beat Leverkusen 2-1 for the second time in just over three months.

Matchday 1: Saturday's action as it happened

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The wait is over! This weekend finally sees the return of the Bundesliga. We'll keep you right up to date with all the latest news, right here...

Click here for our brand new Match Centre!

- © imago / Team 2

21.30 - Ciao for now!

That's all from us today, but join us again tomorrow as we look ahead to Sunday's games and bring you more reaction from a thrilling Saturday in Germany's top flight.

21.12 - Schmidt rues defensive errors

"The goals we conceded came from mistakes at the back – that is very annoying. However, in football, goals win games. We got at least one too few today and that is why we lost. I don’t think that we played with too much risk. We played well in our first Bundesliga match. It is a shame that it didn’t pay off, because the players put in a lot to win."

- © gettyimages / Mika Volkmann

20.56 - 'We absolutely deserved the win'

Andre Schubert: "We went the full distance against a really top team today and had the clear advantage in terms of chances on goal. Leverkusen play very quickly going forward and like to use the long ball. That is not always easy to defend against. On the other hand, we made three or four very good opportunities on goal during the match. For this reason, I believe that we absolutely deserved to win. I am extremely happy with how it went. The players have now played four matches in twelve days - we shouldn’t forget that."

- © gettyimages / Mika Volkmann

20.36 - Borussia ecstatic

FULL-TIME - MÖNCHENGLADBACH 2-1 LEVERKUSEN

Good win for Gladbach to start the season. Stay tuned for reaction...

- © imago / Jan Huebner

84' - MÖNCHENGLADBACH 2-1 LEVERKUSEN

Leverkusen were on terms for just five minutes. Thorgan Hazard's through ball finds Lars Stindl, who keeps his composure to beat Leno and put the Foals back in front! Just over five minutes remaining...

- © imago / Uwe Kraft

79' - MÖNCHENGLADBACH 1-1 LEVERKUSEN

There's the equaliser! Yann Sommer did superbly to save Andreas Christensen's header, which was heading into his own net, but Joel Pohjanpalo is on hand to head home the rebound!

62' - MÖNCHENGLADBACH 1-0 LEVERKUSEN

Time to shake things up, Roger! The Leverkusen coach brings on Julian Brandt and Admir Mehmedi for Kevin Volland and Hakan Calhanoglu, who haven't had the best of games this afternoon.

- © gettyimages / Oliver Hardt

HALF-TIME! - MÖNCHENGLADBACH 1-0 LEVERKUSEN

What a time to score! Gladbach have the lead, but there are still 45 minutes of football left to be played. What can Leverkusen muster up in the second half?

45+2' - MÖNCHENGLADBACH 1-0 LEVERKUSEN

Andre Hahn now has three in three against Leverkusen. The former FC Augsburg man runs onto a long ball, keeps his composure and slides the ball past Bernd Leno. Borussia have the lead!

- © gettyimages / Alex Grimm

42' - MÖNCHENGLADBACH 0-0 LEVERKUSEN

Best chance of the game so far goes to the visitors. Jonathan Tah gets on the end of a free-kick from the right and rattles the crossbar with a firm header. Yann Sommer was a very relieved man!

33' - MÖNCHENGLADBACH 0-0 LEVERKUSEN

Still a very even contest at the BORUSSIA-Park. Moments after Lars Stindl's shot was blocked at one end, Karim Bellarabi stings the palms of Yann Sommer at the other. Still goalless with just over ten minutes to go until half time.

15' - MÖNCHENGLADBACH 0-0 LEVERKUSEN

Gladbach won this fixture 2-1 just over three months ago, with Andre Hahn scoring twice that day. The frontman hasn't seen much of the ball so far, though. Leverkusen defending resolutely.

8' - MÖNCHENGLADBACH 0-0 LEVERKUSEN

The hosts have started brightly at the BORUSSIA-Park. No chances to speak of as yet, but both sets of supporters are contributing to a spine-tingling atmosphere.

18.30 - KICK OFF

We're underway in the top match of the weekend. Both sides will be keen to strike an early blow against a local and Champions League rival. It should be a thriller!

18.15 - Tension rising

All eyes are on Christoph Kramer as the Mönchengladbach midfielder faces his former teammates at Bayer 04 Leverkusen in a mouthwatering clash between two Champions League clubs.

FULL-TIMES IN THE AFTERNOON GAMES

Dortmund 2-1 Mainz

Frankfurt 1-0 Schalke

Köln 2-0 Darmstadt

Augsburg 0-2 Wolfsburg

Hamburg 1-1 Ingolstadt

90' - DORTMUND 2-1 MAINZ

Muto pulls one back in injury time! Can Mainz stage an incredible comeback?

FULL-TIMES

Augsburg 0-2 Wolfsburg

Hamburg 1-1 Ingolstadt

88' - PENALTY TO DORTMUND

And Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang makes no mistake! 2-0 and the points are staying in Dortmund. The race against Robert Lewandowski for top scorer is on!

89' - AUGSBURG 0-2 WOLFSBURG

Rodriguez wraps up all three points for the Wolves with a rocket free-kick.

79' - HAMBURG 1-1 INGOLSTADT

Out of nowhere! Cleber fails to clear Tobias Levels’ probing cross, allowing Lukas Hinterseer to undo Hamburg’s good work and bring Ingolstadt level!

70' - KÖLN 2-0 DARMSTADT

That little breather does wonders for Köln. Artjoms Rudnevs cuts inside from the right and lashes towards goal, with Anthony Modeste all alone in the six-yard box to divert the Latvia international striker’s effort into the back of the net. Mountain to climb for Darmstadt now!

67' - PENALTY TO FRANKFURT......

....And Alex Meier MISSES! How often do you see that??

67’ - 1. FC KÖLN 1-0 SV DARMSTADT 98

After that heavy downpour, the players return to the field of play at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne.

60' - BORUSSIA DORTMUND 1-0 1. FSV MAINZ 05

The away side have continued to put Borussia under concerted pressure in the second half, and they should be level, but Christian Clemens has blazed over when clean through. BVB seem to have lost their grip on proceedings somewhat, hence the introduction of Julian Weigl for Gonzalo Castro.

16.20 - A bit of half-time reading

Read what legendary coach Ottmar Hitzfeld had to say about the new season in an exclusive interview with bundesliga.com

16.17 - HALF-TIME

The Bundesliga is back with a bang! Here are the latest scores:

Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Mainz

Hamburg 1-0 Ingolstadt

Köln 1-0 Darmstadt

Frankfurt 1-0 Schalke

Augsburg 0-1 Wolfsburg

34' - AUGSBURG 0-1 WOLFSBURG

Daniel Didavi scores on his debut to put the Wolves ahead!

30' - HAMBURG 1-0 INGOLSTADT

Hamburg take the lead at the Volksparkstadion! It’s route one stuff as HSV goalkeeper Rene Adler hoofs a ball up to USMNT star Bobby Wood - he still has it all to do, but the debutant striker shows a great first touch and some brute-like strength to hold off his man and squeeze a fine finish inside the near-post. US star Bobby Wood is off the mark on his Bundesliga debut! The man who last year scored more goals in a single season in professional football in Germany than any US player before him has made his mark in the top flight already!

Here's ten things on Bobby Wood

16' - DORTMUND 1-0 MAINZ

The deadlock is broken and you guessed it: it's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang that has the goal. New signing Andre Schürrle is the creator, Aubameyang nodding in the German's delightfully measured cross from six yards.

11' - FRANKFURT 1-0 SCHALKE

Alex Meier has given the home side the lead and Frankfurt have had another effort chalked off due to a foul in the build-up. Schalke are really on the ropes here!

15.40 - Ten minutes in

And already plenty of excitement everywhere. Köln have had three clear-cut chances already at home to Darmstadt. Ousmane Dembele has shown flashes of his brilliance for Dortmund but Mainz came closest with a Brosinski free-kick. And Frankfurt should have gone in front at home to Schalke.

15.30 - we’re underway!

Kick-off around the grounds that are absolutely bathed in sunshine and packed to the rafters! Don’t forget to check out our twitter channel too for updates

15.06 - Is your line-up ready?

Our resident specialists James "The Coach" Thorogood and Matt "The Expert" Howarth have picked their Official Fantasy Bundesliga teams. Have you yet? If not, get your skates on! If you need some inspiration check out James' team here and click here to read what Matt recommends.

14.38 - The line-ups are in

How will the teams line-up? Look no further...

14.18 - You wait for ages...

...then two come along at once! Mainz have also arrived in Dortmund ahead of what promises to be a very good game of football. Both Dortmund and Mainz learnt their fate in Europe earlier in the week and both will be confident of progressing in the Champions League and Europa League respectively.

14.09 - Ingolstadt on board

After a successful first-ever campaign in the Bundesliga, FC Ingolstadt 04 are keen to avoid the dreaded "second-season syndrome". The Schanzer make the long trip north to Hamburg on the opening weekend, confident of getting off to a good start.

13.37 - Schalke warming up

It's baking here in Germany today, but one team in particular are looking to keep a cool head. With a new coach in Markus Weinzierl and an exciting new signing in Breel Embolo, FC Schalke 04 head to Eintracht Frankfurt this weekend keen to hit the ground running against a side who only avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth last term. And the Royal Blues are already gettin gto know the lie of the land in Germany's financial capital...

13.00 - Anticipation rising in Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund have a new all-star cast for the 2016/17 season with plenty of new faces likely to be on show in their league opener against Mainz. Marc Bartra, Ousmane Dembele, Sebastian Rode, Raphael Guerreiro, Andre Schürrle all in the frame to get Dortmund's title challenge off on the right foot when the black-and-yellows host Mainz on Saturday. Mario Götze will miss the match, but for Schürrle and coach Thomas Tuchel, it’s a reunion against the club where both made their name…

12.20 - Recap

FC Bayern Munchen kicked off the defence of their Bundesliga title with an emphatic 6-0 win over SV Werder Bremen that included a hat-trick for striker Robert Lewandowski. The players were suitably delighted with the perfect start to the season.

12.00 - Welcome back to the Bundesliga

There was a flurry of goals on the opening night of the new Bundesliga season as reigning champions FC Bayern München trashed Werder Bremen 6-0 at the Allianz Arena. And with a whole host of intriguing fixtures on Saturday, Matchday 1 promises even more thrills and spills. The new-look Borussia Dortmund kick off their campaign at home to coach Thomas Tuchel’s former club 1. FSV Mainz 05, while Champions League participants Borussia Mönchengladbach and Bayer 04 Leverkusen do battle in the evenings top match. Elsewhere, Markus Weinzierl makes his debut as coach of FC Schalke 04 with a tricky away trip to Eintracht Frankfurt, 1. FC Köln welcome SV Darmstadt 98 and there are two North v South battles as Hamburger SV host FC Ingolstadt 04 and FC Augsburg take on VfL Wolfsburg.

Stay with us for an exciting opening weekend!