German Bundesliga

Bayern Munich

Official Club Name: FC Bayern Munchen Year of Establishment: 1900 Home/Stadium: Allianz Arena (capacity: 66,000) Significant Players: Michael Ballack

It's year two for Felix Magath. As last season ended, the Bayern side showed they were in a class of their own as the close contenders choked under pressure. A tough loss in the Champions League to Abramowitsch's million dollar club, Chelsea, limited how much money Magath would have for transfers this season, even though many of the defenders were dropped from the payroll. Torsten Frings and Alexander Zickler, Tobia Rau and the Iranian Vahid Hamshemian all also decided to leave the winning team. But Ali Karimi, the Iranian footwork whiz, and Frenchman Valerien Ismael will keep Bayern from falling behind in the talent category. The return of Philip Lahm will also prove to be worth watching. The 21-year-old gained experience at Stuttgart and developed into a world-class defender - before being injured. Expect to see him again when Bayern Munich start working their way through the rounds of the Champions League.

Bayer Leverkusen

Official Club Name: FC Bayern Munchen Year of Establishment: 1904 Home/Stadium: Bay Arena (capacity: 22,500) Significant Players: Roque Junior, Dimitar Berbatov

What's new at Leverkusen? Well, nothing actually. They're sticking to tradition and hiring a new Brazilian national team player, this time it's Mazzoli e Oliveira von Cruzeiro Belo Horizonte - who commentators across Europe are glad to know also answers to "Athirson." He's only played five times for Selecao and cost less than a million euros, but Leverkusen hopes he'll steal the scene. One tradition Bayer will hope to break is doing well at the beginning of the season, last year they trounced Real Madrid 3-0 and beat Bayern Munich 4-1, before crashing in the season's final months.

Borussia Dortmund

Official Club Name: Borussia Dortmund Year of Establishment: 1900 Home/Stadium: Borussia-Park (capacity: 53,148) Significant Players: Kasey Keller, Elber

Dortmund Inc. went to the edge of the Bundesliga and nearly fell due to their own financial difficulties, leading some to believe the team shouldn't even be allowed to be traded on the market anymore. Finances be as they may, on the field Bert van Marmijk's squad put in a solid second half performance. Fans will hope selling off Ewerthon in exchange for the South African Buckley will bring some relief to the team's strained coffers without affecting performance on the pitch as Dortmund have their sights set on international competition this season, but they'll need to improve on their start if they want a chance at a UEFA Cup berth.

Werder Bremen

Official Club Name: Werder Bremen Year of Establishment: 1899 Home/Stadium: Weserstadion (capacity: 35,901) Significant Players: Miroslav Klose, Torsten Frings

Bremen couldn't defend the German Championship last season and only came knee-high to Lyon in the Champions League. Now with two top players gone, Valerien Ismael has decided to try his luck at Bayern Munich, Fabian Ernst left for other top rival Schalke 04, it may be a touch more complicated for Bremen to match their third place finish last season. In this season's elite club matches it will be Torsten Frings, who has returned Bayern Munich, and goalkeeper Tim Wiese who will have to put in their best.