I have so been waiting for this day! My kits have been purchased. German satellite is ready. German friend is ready. My computer is set-up for optimal streaming, as back-up. I have a rare Friday off of work. My schedule is clear. Appropriate flags, pendants and shawls are hanging about. Heck, I even bought new Adi Pure boots, knowing I liked them, but forgetting they were Schweini’s…

Let’s get this started!

The opening match of the 2010 - 2011 Bundesliga season pits our boys in red, last year’s Bundesliga champions, against Wolfsburg, the champs from the season before that. And while die Roten have been very, very quiet on the transfer market this summer, die Wolfe have undergone some major changes.

New man-in-charge, Steve McClaren, took over Wolfsburg after winning an Eredivise title with FC Twente last season. Changes in formation (switching to 4-2-3-1) and personnel? Sounds like van Gaal’s dodgy start with Bayern Munich a bit, eh? The Wolves eighth-place finish last year led to new signings, most notably, Arne Friedrich and Simon Kjaer, who will be anchoring the defense. And, if Edin Dzeko stays around, they’ll be a force to be reckoned with this season. Better, I think, to play them now--- before they get it all figured out.

OK, so we’ve got no new faces. But, we did welcome back everyone on loan: Toni Kroos, Jose Ernesto Sosa, Edson Braafheid, Breno and Andreas Ottl. Kroos, of course, will be starting in the ten spot. (Can I get a “Hell, yeah“?!) However, with injuries to Arjen Robben and his would-be replacement, Ivica Olic; everyone will get their turn to impress LvG.

On the other side, Wolfsburg should be full strength, with the exception of goalkeeper, Benaglio, whose wife is expecting.

Probable starting line-up for Bayern: Butt - Lahm, van Buyten, Badstuber, Contento - van Bommel, Schweinsteiger - Mueller, Kroos, Ribery - Klose.

And, for Wolfsburg: Hitz - Pekarik, Friedrich, Kjaer, Schaefer - Josue, Cicero - Riether, Misimovic, Mandzukic - Dzeko. (It’ll be strange to see Grafite on the bench, but I can’t say I’m not happy about it.)

After our dominating performance against Schalke 04, I think we’ll come out swinging.

“Remember Germania Windeck“, you say?

To that I reply, “I hardly think McClaren is gonna park the bus against us.”

He’ll be trying to go forward, and not just on fast breaks. This should open up the pitch enough to give our boys a little wiggle room. Now, if DvB and Badstuber can keep it together against Dzeko? Three points is a nice way to open a season, you think?

Immer Bayern!