Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Bayern Munich vs Hamburg in the opening game of the 2015/16 Bundesliga season. Team news to follow shortly...

Free kick as Costa tugs at Dirkmeier who was shielding the ball int he right back position. Hamburg go long with Adler and hope to get Schipplock in behind but Benatia clears well.

Muller picks up a loose ball and drives into the middle. He has Costa running in behind on his left but he opts to play a reverse ball to Robben who has too much ground to make up and Hamburg can see it out for a throw.

Alonso with the booking after a cynical block on Schipplock who intercepted a really poor ball from Benatia. Took one for the team there Alonso. Half way line free kick.

Bayern of course still dominating the ball but Hamburg look like they're on the ropes already. Costa is getting in behind and Bayern's variation of play is already showing the deficiencies in HSV's back line. They're just about coping.

They're right. Bayern asserting dominance now.

CHANCE! Lovely crossfield ball from Alaba to Robben who runs into the penalty area and gets his head on it but his glancing header goes just wide.

Bayern back in possession but there are rather a lot of Hamburg players behind it. And their back line now has six people in it as their two wingers drop into the full back position and the full backs come central.

Lahm backs off Holtby on the left but manages to block his cross meaning Boateng's clearance is a lot easier.

CHANCE! Well, I better eat my words. Lahm gives the ball away in his own half. Holtby drives down the left after intercepting and finds Schipplock in the area. He holds it up and plays it back to Holtby on the edge of the area but his shot is straight at Neuer. Unlucky.

Would you believe it, Bayern have started this match dominating the ball. Hamburg have surprisingly gone for the defensive approach and now have ten men behind the ball. The pattern of the match is already set.

There isn't...

KICK OFF! Finally, we're underway as the referee toots his whistle and Hamburg get the game going. Can only see this game going one way, but you never know, stranger things have happened in football...

National anthem, of course. Lots of giant inflatable balls still on the pitch too. At least the two teams are out as well. So that's a start...

Not quite underway here as the Bundesliga opening ceremony needs doing, of course. At the moment it is 18 giant balloons on the pitch representing each club with one key player on them. They're all bouncing around but I'd rather be watching the two teams kick off, if I'm honest...

So judging by those stats, Bayern aren't going to lose tonight. It'd take a minor miracle anyway but when you add the fact Hamburg have lost their last six in a row away to Bayern with an aggregate score of 32-3, this match really will be a 90-minute uphill battle for the visitors.

Hamburg have improved over the summer since their terrible campaign last season.Lewis Holtby has been tied down to a permanent deal from Tottenham and players like Djourou and Spahic surely can't have as bad a season as they did last time. If they do, they could be in for another 8-0 drubbing like the one Bayern handed them in February.

So Pep Guardiola begins his third season at the helm of the biggest club in Germany and is showing off his riches with a starting XI filled with household names. Their big midfield signing Arturo Vidal starts the very first game of the season and will slot straight into midfield alongside Xabi Alonso and his new teammates.