2015/16: day 30 of pre-season - live updates
Cologne - There are just two days to go until the unofficial curtain-raiser to the new Bundesliga season, but it's not only Supercup contenders VfL Wolfsburg and FC Bayern München that are hard at work these days.
As usual, bundesliga.com keeps you up to date with all the latest news from around the 18 Bundesliga clubs in this key stage of pre-season.
Aubameyang rallies the troops
Dortmund's Gabonese star can't wait to get the team's competitive season underway this evening. BVB face Austrian side Wolfsberger AC in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League at 21:05 CEST.
Special dietary requirements
Are you eating as healthily as Mario Götze?
Football friend!
Here's the Bremen lads celebrating International Day of Friendship:
Billy Goats hard at work
Köln are busy preparing for the Colonia Cup on 1-2 August, when they will face Stoke City, Valencia and FC Porto. A good-quality tournament, we think you'll agree.
All smiles at Bayern
Gearing up for the Supercup 2015 against VfL Wolfsburg, Bayern appear to be in fine spirits, and if Douglas Costa’s pre-season performances are anything to go by, then Vierinha or Sebastian Jung will need to be very much on their toes this Saturday.
Perfect pick me up
Ingolstadt weren’t the only side to have some welcome visitors stop by. Borussia Dortmund had former BVB centre back Koray Günter and FIFA World Cup winner Lukas Podolski pay them a visit ahead of their clash with Wolfsberger AC.
Lambert looking in
FC Ingolstadt 04 had a special guest come to visit today. “Prominent Schanzer visitors! Paul Lambert, friend and companion of Michael Henke is currently visiting FCI,” reads this tweet from the Bundesliga new boys.
On yer bike!
Whoever is sitting in the bus must be laughing as the Borussia Mönchengladbach players embark on a pleasant afternoon bike ride. The question is how many hills are on the route that Lucien Favre’s planned out?
Bürki bullish
Pre-season is pre-season, but when the real action kicks off, that’s when football is at its best. Roman Bürki is obviously of the same opinion, what with Borussia Dortmund kicking off their UEFA Europa League campaign later this evening.
Confident about a comeback
Holger Badstuber is no stranger to pushing himself to the limit in order to regain full fitness and the German international is at it again as he looks to make himself available as quickly as possible with the 2015/16 season looming. There’s always time for a little added motivation though.
The green, green grass of home
There can be no complaints from Bayer 04 Leverkusen about the conditions for their training session this morning, with 13 outfield players and three goalkeepers hard at work following a 4-0 win over Levante on Wednesday night.
Friendship
Today is International Day of Friendship, and Bundesliga clubs are spreading the message...
Finishing touches
Before embarking on their first Bundesliga season in 33 years, Darmstadt have 'royal' rivals to deal with as Real Betis Balompié form their next friendly opponents.
Many happy returns!
bundesliga.com also wishes a Happy Birthday to Hoffenheim and Germany forward Kevin Volland
In on his day off
Schalke officially have a day off today, but that has not stopped somebody from reporting for an extra shift (and no, we don't mean the photographer...)
Anyone for tennis?
Wolfsburg have taken to another kind of sport to sharpen up for the Supercup. Play!
Run, Hertha, run
Hertha Berlin have started without a ball, on the other hand, with running exercises to get them warmed up...
Keep-ups
Hannover 96 not keeping the ball on the ground this morning. They are taking part in the final session of their summer training camp in Saalfelden...
Six men down
Werder Bremen are lacking six players for their training session this morning...
Call for fans
In northern Germany with not much to do today? Hamburger SV have invited you to watch them in training! They have two sessions today, one at 10:00 and the other at 16:00 CEST so get along to the Volksparkstadion and watch Bruno Labbadia's men in action!
Nostalgia
Miiko Albornoz took advantage of a break in training with Hannover 96 to catch his former club Malmö FF in action on Wednesday night, as a true supporter! He saw them go down 2-0 to RB Salzburg in their UEFA Champions League qualifier, but there is still a second leg back in Sweden...
Matchday!
It has been a long time since that word has made it onto bundesliga.com's live updates! It is a welcome sight too with Borussia Dortmund the first Bundesliga side in serious action this season, with their UEFA Europa League trip to Wolfsberg tonight!
Settling in
Carlos Ascues seems to be in high spirits and settling in well as a VfL Wolfsburg player...