Bundesliga prepares for new season
The World Cup is over and Germany's clubs - without their World Cup stars who are away on holiday - have started their pre-season preparation. Training camps and friendlies are on the schedule.
Lewandowski leads Bayern to Telekom Cup win
Bayern Munich won the 2014 Telekom Cup with ease after a 3-0 win over VfL Wolfsburg, with Robert Lewandowski once again proving the matchwinner. The Pole, who scored a fantastic goal against Gladbach in the semi-final win, headed Bayern into the lead before curling in a long-range effort to seal victory. Sebastian Rode, another new signing, also impressed throughout the hour-long game.
Hamburg take bronze
Having lost 6-5 on penalties to VfL Wolfsburg in the semi-final, Hamburger SV saw off Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-1 to finish the 2014 Telekom Cup in third. HSV, desperate to bounce back after a terrible campaign last year, took advantage of some poor defensive errors by Gladbach - goalkeeper Christofer Heimeroth looked particularly nervous - to earn a confidence-boosting pre-season win.
Badstuber returns, Lewandowski scores
Before their Telekom Cup success, Bayern drew 1-1 with third-division MSV Duisburg - Robert Lewandowski opening his Bayern account with a smart finish. Before that, David Alaba scored a brace in a 3-0 win over a fan-club team from Memmingen, with Holger Badstuber returning from injury and Sebastian Rode and Juan Bernat making their debuts.
Klopp fires up Dortmund charges
In the small, rural Austrian town of Brixen im Thale, Borussia Dortmund began their preparations for the 2014/15 Bundesliga season. New signings were involved, but old faces too as Neven Subotic celebrated his return from injury in a 4-3 win over Heidenheim (Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored a brace). Mkhitaryan also scored in the 1-1 draw with VfL Osnabrück, with Ciro Immobile making his debut.
Immobile scores as BVB go up a gear
Against one of Germany's oldest and most traditional clubs - Rot-Weiss Essen - Borussia Dortmund's pre-season preparations continued. Jürgen Klopp's men ran out 5-1 winners, and new, Italian signing Ciro Immobile got on the scoresheet. A brace from Aubameyang and one a piece from Mkhitaryan and Subotic completed the scoring as Klopp tried a 4-4-2 formation with Aubameyang and Immobile in attack.
Schaaf looking for Eagles to fly even higher
Eintracht Frankfurt have a new coach this season and Thomas Schaaf, who spent over a decade at Werder Bremen, will be keen to point his new team in a new direction. Pre-season started well as Frankfurt scored 17 across their first two games, but Schaaf's men then suffered a 5-2 defeat to Waldorf Mannheim. Another win and a draw have since improved their spirits - Alex Meier has been in good form.
Köln ready for return to the big time
1. FC Köln stormed to the second division title last season, and are relishing being back in the Bundesliga. Peter Stöger's team will be keen to buck the trend of newly promoted sides struggling to survive. Their pre-season included a 3-1 local derby win against Fortuna Köln. Former 1860 Munich winger Daniel Halfar scored two, and promising striker Simon Zoller (pictured) was also involved.
Leverkusen look for next stage under Schmidt
Leverkusen are another side to boast a new manager for the 2014/15 season, and Roger Schmidt will be keen to prove that he can be the man to take Bayer 04 into the top two. Pre-season work began in Zell am See, Austria before Leverkusen played Marseille - suffering a 4-1 defeat. A 2-1 win over Lokomotiv Moscow followed. Games in Seoul, South Korea and against Southampton in England are to come.
Stuttgart must push to deliver potential
Despite bringing in experienced manager Armin Veh, VfB Stuttgart face a tough season. Their squad boasts a number of talented youngsters, none brighter than striker Timo Werner, but their poor concentration cost them severely last season. A 2-1 win against SV Darmstadt was followed by a draw and then a 1-0 win over Aue. Kiwi Marco Rojas has been in good form, scoring two goals so far.