SV Werder Bremen will kick start the 2017/18 Bundesliga season with an away match at 1899 Hoffenheim. The match, which will take place on either 19th or 20th August, was announced by the Germany Football League (DFL) on Thursday alongside the full fixture list for the new season. The Green-Whites’ first home game of the season is a real cracker against record champions FC Bayern München.
Zlatko Junuzovic: "Opening the season against Hoffenheim is interesting and funny, from an Austrian perspective too, because Florian Grillitsch is joining them. Then to open the season at home against the best team in Germany is also cool and something special for the fans and team. But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who we play and when, because we have to meet every team anyway in the league. I’m looking forward to the new season."
Alexander Nouri: "To start the season away against Champions League opponents and then come home to welcome the reigning German champions is a very challenging start. But to face the record champions, the benchmark for every team, has a great appeal to the fans. There will be an amazing atmosphere at the Weser-Stadion. We want to contribute to that and obviously take something from the game. In the end, we have no influence on the fixtures, so we take whatever comes at us. We’ll accept the challenge and will prepare as best as possible for the game."
Frank Baumann: "There are no easy games in the Bundesliga. We know that you can’t choose your opponents and that we have to face everyone sooner or later. It’s exciting and challenging to start against two Champions League participants. We stood up well against them last season and took a point home from Hoffenheim. Now the focus on pre-season is intensified. Ultimately, we want to start the new season well."
