Will Bundesliga fans have to wait long for the first Revierderby of 2017/18? We'll find out on 29 June when the fixtures are announced. - © © gettyimages / Simon Hofmann
Will Bundesliga fans have to wait long for the first Revierderby of 2017/18? We'll find out on 29 June when the fixtures are announced. - © © gettyimages / Simon Hofmann

Bayern vs. Dortmund, Hamburg vs. Bremen: The Bundesliga fixtures to look forward to in 2017/18

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It’s already been a number of weeks since a ball was last kicked in the Bundesliga, and the lack of top-flight German action is driving us mad! But fear not, the 2017/18 season is just around the corner and the fixtures for the upcoming season have been announced!

Click right here to see all of the Bundesliga fixtures for 2017/18!

As with every season, fans and players’ eyes will rapidly scan through their team’s list seeking out those key fixtures: Who’s our first opponent? Will we have the chance to lift the Meisterschale in front of our own fans on the last day? When are our rivals in town? Well, we can help. Now bundesliga.com has taken a look at some of the biggest match-ups you can expect this season.

1) Bayern Munich - Borussia Dortmund

Matchday 11 in Dortmund: 03-05.11.2017

Matchday 28 in Munich: 31.03-02.04.2018

These two Bundesliga giants are once again favourites for the title this season, and they have become very familiar with one another in recent years. Since April 2012, Bayern and Dortmund have met an incredible 22 times in all competitions, including three DFB Cup finals, four Supercups and the 2013 Champions League final.

Read: Top Klassiker facts

Both sides will have mixed memories from their results in 2016/17. The Bavarians were victorious in August’s Supercup (2-0) before the Black-Yellows turned the tables in the first Bundesliga meeting to inflict Bayern’s first defeat of the season. The champions were far too strong for the visitors in the reverse fixture in Munich, comfortably winning 4-1, but BVB had the final laugh of the season with a 3-2 win at the Allianz Arena in the semi-final of the DFB Cup to knock the defending champions out.

Watch: Highlights of Bayern's 4-1 humbling of Dortmund on Matchday 28

2) Borussia Dortmund - Schalke

Matchday 13 in Dortmund: 24-27.11.2017

Matchday 30 in Gelsenkirchen: 13-16.04.2018

They call it the ‘mother of all derbies.’ Dortmund vs. Gelsenkirchen, Black and Yellow vs. Royal Blue: The Revierderby is much more than just a football match and makes losing not an option. Both meetings last season were tight affairs with neither side getting their noses in front after two draws (0-0 and 1-1).

The two Ruhr clubs have new head coaches in the dugouts for the upcoming season following the arrivals of Domenico Tedesco to Gelsenkirchen and Peter Bosz to Dortmund. Both bosses will therefore be making their Revierderby bows when the old enemies meet for the first time in 2017/18, and no doubt both will have this fixture clearly marked on the calendars in their offices. Dortmund will be looking to notch up a 33rd victory over their local rivals, whilst Schalke will aim to close the gap with a 31st win.

Watch: The unabated passion of the Revierderby

3) Bayern Munich - RB Leipzig

Matchday 10 in Munich: 27-29.10.2017

Matchday 27 in Leipzig: 16-18.03.2018

One of the Bundesliga’s nascent rivalries, Leipzig were the closest competitors for eventual champions Bayern in their debut top-flight season. The clubs met competitively for the first time in December 2016 with the Bundesliga record champions and newcomers level on points after 15 games - a game Bayern won comfortably 3-0.

However, it was the second meeting on the penultimate matchday that will live long in the memory as the two sides put on a show in the game that saw the most goals in 2016/17. Leipzig were impressive as they led the champions elect 3-1 and 4-2 before going on to lose for the first time in the Bundesliga from a winning position as the Munich side turned on the afterburners with three goals in the closing minutes to claim their first-ever 5-4 victory in the Bundesliga. Will Ralph Hasenhüttl’s runners-up push the champions again this season and maybe even go one better come next May?

Watch: Highlights of Leipzig and Bayern's crazy 5-4 result on the penultimate Matchday

4) Werder Bremen - Hamburg

Matchday 7 in Hamburg: 29.09-01.10.2017

Matchday 27 in Bremen: 23-26.02.2018

This fixture has been entertaining the masses for all but one of the previous 54 Bundesliga campaigns. The first edition of the Nordderby this season will be the 107th since the Bundesliga was formed in 1963, extending its record as the most played match in the German top flight. The fixture has also seen the most draws in Bundesliga history, with the 34th coming in the first half of last season (2-2 in Hamburg).

“When you play against Hamburg, you don’t need a coach to motivate you,” said Werder legend Wynton Rufer. And HSV’s Michael Gregoritsch also realises what the game means for all involved: “I get goosebumps whenever I think about this fixture.” You’re not the only one, Michael…

Watch: Highlights of Bremen's 2-1 win over Hamburg during the Green-Whites' eleven-match unbeaten run

5) Borussia Mönchengladbach - Cologne

Matchday 1 in Mönchengladbach: 18-20.08.2017

Matchday 18 in Cologne: 12-15.01.2018

For the first time since 2003, the Bundesliga season will open with the infamous Rheinderby between the Foals and the Billy Goats. On that day 14 years ago, it was Gladbach who prevailed 1-0 after an own-goal from Cologne's Matthias Scherz.

Last season's encounters between the rivals produced two all-time classic derbies, and two of the season's best games. In the first, Marcel Risse's goal of the season contender sent Cologne fans wild in Gladbach, but Lars Stindl revenged his side by grabbing the winner for the Foals in a five-goal thriller away from home. If that doesn't get you excited for next season, we don't know what will...

Watch: Highlights of Borussia Mönchengladbach's incredible 2-3 win over Cologne in the Derby

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