Bayer Leverkusen will start its Bundesliga title defense at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Aug. 23

By The Associated Press

FILE - Leverkusen's Granit Xhaka, center, celebrates with the trophy as his team won the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and FC Augsburg at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Martin Meissner]

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — German champion Bayer Leverkusen will kick off its Bundesliga title defense away to local rival Borussia Moenchengladbach on Aug. 23. As usual in Germany, the champion starts the new league season with a Friday night game. Gladbach was the only Bundesliga team that managed to stop Leverkusen scoring last season, holding Xabi Alonso’s team to a 0-0 draw in their last meeting in January. Leverkusen was the first team to win the Bundesliga title without losing a game.