Cologne started a new campaign with a new manager at the helm – Steffen Baumgart has been acquired from Bundesliga 2 side SC Paderborn. The previous permanent manager Markus Gisdol was sacked back in April, with Friedhelm Funkel given the job until the end of the season to save the club from relegation. Baumgart will be tasked with bringing stability to a club that has been hopping between the top two divisions and hovering around the relegation spots in the Bundesliga for several years, although he could only dream of achieving the magic of the 2016-17 season, when Cologne suddenly finished fifth. Having won three of their last six matches under interim manager Funkel, followed by a 5-2 aggregate win over Holstein Kiel in the relegation playoffs, the hosts have prepared for the opener in promising fashion. Last weekend also saw Cologne progress through the first round of the DFB-Pokal, although a penalty was required following a 1-1 draw against amateur side FC Carl Zeiss Jena, despite a strong lineup being fielded.

A single loss in Hertha's last nine games last season was the foundation to build on after a very disappointing year overall for a team that has invested heavily in recent years.The Berlin club's current net spending has been positive this summer, despite the impressive arrival of four players in the form of Suat Serdar, Marco Richter, Stevan Jovetic and Kevin-Prince Boateng, who returned to his boyhood club for a second spell.Preparations over the summer certainly gave supporters hope for the coming season, after a six-game unbeaten run in pre-season. Among the three wins was an entertaining 4-3 away win at Liverpool, with new signings Jovetic and Serdar among the goalscorers. The first round of the DFB-Pokal followed last weekend and Hertha beat third-tier side SV Meppen with an injury time winner from Davie Selke in a 1-0 win. A debut will be expected for the arrivals of stars Suat Serdar and Stefan Jovetic, while another debut is expected in midfield for Boateng upon his return to the club.

A tight match is expected between two equally matched teams last season, although bigger hopes lie on the shoulders of the visitors. I say a 1-1 draw to end the opening weekend of the new Bundesliga season, as both sides seek to pick up their pace. Take X2 on away team, cant see em losing today.

科隆在新教练的带领下开始了一个新的赛季——斯蒂芬·鲍姆加特从德甲2队的帕德伯恩转会而来。上一任永久教练马库斯·吉斯多尔在四月份被解雇，芬克尔被留任至本赛季结束，以挽救俱乐部免于降级。鲍姆加特的任务是为这个在两大联赛之间徘徊，并在德甲降级区徘徊多年的俱乐部带来稳定，尽管他只能梦想着在2016-17赛季实现魔法，科隆突然以第五名的成绩结束比赛。在临时教练芬克尔的带领下，他们在过去的六场比赛中赢了三场，然后在保级季后赛中以总比分5-2战胜了基尔，东道主队已经准备好了有希望的揭幕战。上周末，科隆在德国足球杯的第一轮比赛中面对业余球队卡尔蔡司耶拿，尽管阵容强大，但还是需要考点球获胜。

上个赛季赫塔在过去九场比赛中的一场失利，是这支近年来投入巨资的球队在经历了非常令人失望的一年之后继续前进的基础。这家柏林俱乐部目前的净支出在这个夏天是积极的，尽管有四名球员的到来给人留下了深刻的印象，他们是瑟达尔、里希特、约维蒂奇和博阿滕，博阿滕又回到了他的少年俱乐部。在季前赛六场不败之后，夏天的准备工作无疑给了球迷们对新赛季的希望。三场胜利中有一场4-3客场战胜利物浦的比赛，新签的约维蒂奇和塞尔达尔都是进球者。在德国足协与波卡尔的第一轮比赛中，赫塔在伤停补时阶段凭借戴维·塞尔克的一记制胜球1-0击败了第三梯队SV梅蓬。新加盟的球星塞尔达尔和约维蒂奇将迎来处子秀，博阿滕回到俱乐部后将在中场再次上演处子秀。

上个赛季两支势均力敌的球队之间预计会有一场激烈的比赛，尽管更大的希望落在客队的肩上。我认为会1-1平局结束本场比赛，因为双方都在寻求加快步伐。看好柏林赫塔不败。