Dortmund, Leverkusen clash in Bundesliga

Leverkusen, Germany – Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen two in the Bundesliga last season and, two days after receiving a pair of tough Champions League draws, face off for the first time this season.

Although both clubs sold a key player this summer, as Dortmund lost Nuri Sahin to Real Madrid and Leverkusen lost Arturo Vidal to Juventus, they remain among the challengers for the 2011-12 league crown.

Dortmund learned it will face Arsenal, Marseille and Olympiacos, which is not a bad group for the defending German champions considering it was one of the lowest seeds.

Leverkusen was a pot three side, based on recent European performances, and is in Group E with Chelsea, Valencia and Genk.

But with the start of group play still a couple weeks away, the focus for both clubs is on this weekend's game at the BayArena. Both sides have two victories and a loss after three games, sitting among seven teams on six points.

Bayern Munich is also on six points, and it also was handed a tough draw as it will face Villarreal, Manchester City and Napoli in the Champions League. With two straight wins in the Bundesliga, is has rebounded from its opening loss.

The 2011-12 Champions League final is at Bayern's Allianz Arena, and with its defense rebuilt after signing of Manuel Neuer, Jerome Boateng and Rafinha, the club has allowed just one goal in five games. Bayern visits Kaiserslautern on Saturday without Arjen Robben, who is sidelined with a groin injury.

"It's a very important match. If we win, we can legitimately call it a good start to the season," said Bayern director of sport Christian Nerlinger. "Our goal was always to be there or thereabouts at the top from the beginning."

Monchengladbach, which edged Bayern 1-0 at the Allianz Arena, is the surprise leader after three matches on seven points, with Hannover also on seven points but second on goal differential.

Gladbach visits Schalke on Sunday, when Hannover hosts Mainz, one of the clubs on six points.

Also Saturday, Hamburg hosts Cologne, Nurnberg hosts Augsburg, Freiburg hosts Wolfsburg, and Hoffenheim hosts Werder Bremen.

On Friday, Raffael scored with four minutes left as Hertha Berlin extended its unbeaten run to three matches with a 1-0 win over Stuttgart at Olympiastadion. Promoted Hertha lost its opener, but has two ties and a win in its last three.