Bundesliga title defense

The northern Germans won their first title three months ago thanks to the attacking duo of Grafite and Edin Dzeko, and the coaching skills of Felix Magath.

Grafite finished the season as the Bundesliga's top scorer and was voted Germany's player of the year by sports journalists at the weekend.

The traditional vote carried out by Kicker magazine had 1,042 participants. Brazilian Grafite received 331 votes, followed by 171 for striker Mario Gomez, who has since moved from VfB Stuttgart to Bayern Munich.

Grafite's team-mate Dzeko finished third in the list on 169 while Magath was voted coach of the year.

Grafite netted 28 goals in just 25 appearances last season and has been rewarded with a contract extension until 2012. Strike partner Dzeko has also negotiated a new deal that sees the Bosnia-Herzegovina striker staying at Wolfsburg until 2013.

"I want to do even better (this season) and score more goals," said Grafite. "If I manage to play more games than last year, then it's possible."

While Grafite and Dzeko have renewed their contracts, Magath has jumped ship to fulfill his dream of being in charge at Schalke 04.

New coach Veh plays down title defense chances

The new helmsman at Wolfsburg is Armin Veh. He's vowed that "we want to stay at the top" with a squad featuring more depth after the signing of Nigerian Obafemi Martens and others.

But Veh also conceded that Munich are the top title favorite in a season in which Wolfsburg will enter unknown territories with a tough schedule of Bundesliga, German cup and Champions League matches.

Friday's Bundesliga curtain-raiser will be a first indication of their form as Wolfsburg face VfB Stuttgart, the club Veh coached to the 2007 title.

Wolfsburg started slow into the last season, but a strong run after the winter break and a league-record-equaling home field result of 16 wins and one draw ensured them of the surprise title.

Grafite scored 28 goals in 25 games and Dzeko hit the net 26 times.

Top strike force in place; boosted by Martins transfer

While Veh is aware that the two stars can't carry the team on their own through another season - "We can't expect them to play 50 matches" - the deadly duo is hungry for more success.

"I want to do even better (this season) and score more goals. If I manage to play more games than last year then it's possible," said Grafite.

Dzeko, who was wanted by AC Milan, said: "I am looking forward to the Bundesliga and the Champions League. We have high expectations at Wolfsburg."

Kicker magazine said that while Magath had turned "a scrap yard car into a luxury vehicle" during his reign, Veh's main challenge will now be "fine-tuning."

He's already been doing that with the hiring of midfielders Karim Ziani and Thomas Kahlenberg from French clubs Olympique Marseille and Auxerre, respectively, and that of the Nigerian striker Martens from England's Newcastle.

The trio cost Volkswagen-sponsored Wolfsburg around 20 million euros ($28.6 million).

Algeria's Ziani and the Dane Kahlenberg will provide Veh with more midfield options and Martens offers more choices up front.

"He's exactly the kind of player we have been looking for to compliment Grafite and Edin Dzeko. As he can also be used in a wide position, we have the option now of playing with two or even three strikers," Veh said.

The coach admitted to a general risk of complacency after a big success, but said he had "a good feeling" that this will not happen in Wolfsburg.

"Our aim is to qualify for international events," Veh said. "That means we will be satisfied with a top-five finish."

German Cup romp gives champs pre-season boost

Wolfsburg have already got off to a winning start with a comfortable 4-1 win away to third division Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the German Cup on Friday.

Grafite fired Wolfsburg ahead after 25 minutes and Bosnian Zvjezdan Misimovic scored a second four minutes before half-time.

Dzeko added a third just after the re-start and this was immediately followed by a penalty save from Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio who denied Marcel Ziemer.

Misimovic's second goal in the 56th minute secured Armin Veh's debut win as coach with Wehen's Steffen Bohl grabbing a consolation strike just after the hour mark.

Stuttgart test promises early season fireworks

Wolfsburg's title defense, however, will kick off with a more serious challenge in the form of their coach's former club, last season's third-place finisher VfB Stuttgart, in the season opener on Friday.

"This is, of course, something special for me as I was German champions with VfB in 2007," Veh said on the club's Web site. "It's a very, very explosive game for sure. I am absolutely sure that Stuttgart will be near the top again this season."

Veh has further difficult opponents with a visit to Cologne, now coached by Zvonimir Soldo, and a game against SV Hamburg - also with a new coach, Bruno Labbadia - before the trip to Munich.

Rivals also face tough early tests

Record champions Bayern Munich, under new coach Louis van Gaal, also have a tricky start to the season with a visit to Hoffenheim who led the table at the halfway stage last season before finishing seventh.

Van Gaal faces further tough opponents in August, with a first home game against cup winners Werder Bremen, followed two weeks later in the Allianz Arena by Wolfsburg.

In between, Bayern must visit newly-promoted Mainz, with a trip to Borussia Dortmund - unbeaten at home last season - following the Wolfsburg match.

All three promoted sides have home matches, with Nuremburg up against Felix Magath's Schalke 04, while Freiburg meet Hamburg and Mainz 05 entertain Bayer Leverkusen.

Magath has a local Ruhr region derby the following weekend when Bochum are the visitors.

In other matches of the opening weekend, Bremen have a home match against Eintracht Frankfurt, Hertha Berlin face Hanover, while Dortmund play Cologne and Bochum meet Borussia Moenchengladbach in regional derbies.

nda/dpa/AFP

Editor: Sonia Phalnikar