Bayern Munich favorites as 2017/2018 Bundesliga season gets underway

Pundits and most first division coaches still don't expect a boring season. Borussia Moenchengladbach coach Dieter Hecking hopes for one of the most exciting years in German football as many teams behind Bayern seem to be strong enough to deliver a thrilling race when it comes to the qualification places for European competitions.

Besides Dortmund and Leipzig, Hoffenheim, Moenchengladbach Leverkusen, VfL Wolfsburg, Cologne, Hertha BSC and Schalke 04 are candidates to make it. For some, Schalke is ready to be the season' s biggest surprise after expectations grew following Domenico Tedesco joining the club as its new head coach. The 38-year-old Italian rooted is regarded to be the most promising coaching talent next to Nagelsmann.

While smaller clubs such as FC Ingolstadt and Darmstadt 98 were relegated teams like the VfB Stuttgart, and Hannover 96 have returned to the Bundesliga. Both clubs can't be seen as typical newcomers as they can rely on a long tradition and a strong financial background.

For the first time in Bundesliga history, all games will be covered by video-proofing. Kick-off times of several games have been adjusted to address foreign market needs. Five games will take place on a Monday evening; Saturday evening's game will start half an hour later and five games Saturday afternoon will begin as early as half past one local time. The Bundesliga has bagged 4.6 billion euro on a new TV deal including international markets.

Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke called the TV deal inevitable as the Bundesliga otherwise will "have fewer chances to compete in the global market."

38-year old Bibiana Steinhaus will join the Bundesliga as the first female referee in history.