FC Bayern Frauen | Season Preview

The new season begins with a trip to Triple winners VfL Wolfsburg (I suppose this is where you can tell this article definitely isn't about the mens' game) on Saturday, August 7.

This season is unique in the sense that Bayern are opening (or rather re-opening) their new home ground of the Grünwalder Stadion after having previously played at Sportpark Aschheim. The Grünwalder Stadion was home to both of Munich's big clubs for many years until the Olympiastadion was built in the early 1970's.

They also have a new, but familiar shirt sponsor. Previously the team wore the same kits as the men, but this season they have Allianz on their shirts instead of one Deutsche Telekom's services.

To the footballing side of things, the team recently signed American duo Erika Tymrak and Bianca Henninger on loan from FC Kansas City, and Italian Raffaella Manieri from Torres CF of the Serie A. Valeria Kleiner, previously of 1. FFC Frankfurt, also joined Bayern, as did Franziska Jaser from Thanhausen.

The team's only major loss was that of Julia Simic, who left to join rivals Turbine Potsdam over the summer.

Running up to the games that count towards the standings, FCB have lost their last two preseason matches against the North Korean national team and TSG Thanhausen, respectively. The North Korea match was a 0-1 loss and Thanhausen beat Bayern 1-2 with FCB's only goal coming from Sarah Hagen.

Bayern's Lena Lotzen was featured in Germany's Euro 13-winning side and scored a goal against Iceland in the team's 3-0 group stage victory.

Last season, the team also made a run deep into the DFB-Pokal, a competition they were finalists in during the 2011-12 campaign.

After the team plays Wolfsburg, they host SC Freiburg before traveling to Essen.

The team figures to be as good if not better than last season after their player additions, but usual contenders Potsdam, Frankfurt and Wolfsburg are all clearly the teams to beat in this edition of the Frauen-Bundesliga.