5 Key Games for Bayern Munich in the First Half of 2015-16 Bundesliga Season

Bayern Munich's coming Bundeslgia campaign may be a foregone conclusion for most fans of the German top division, yet plenty of potential obstacles stand between the current champions and another league title between now and December. 

Pep Guardiola will have the Champions League atop his list of priorities, yet his team of superstars will have to be at their very best if they are to avoid any complacency in the Bundesliga. A number of clubs have their eyes on the coveted salad bowl and may just pip Bayern to the title if the latter are not careful. 

Here are five key games in the first half of the season which will indicate just how Bayern's campaign will go.

Bayer Leverkusen at Home: Matchday 3

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

Bayern Munich have only won two of their last six encounters with the Factory Squad of Bayer Leverkusen. 

Sure, the pharmaceutical-owned club have had their ups and downs over the past few seasons, but since Roger Schmidt has come in the side have looked far more composed and ready for a fight. 

Add to that the summer signings of Admir Mehmedi, Jonathan Tah, Kyriakos Papadopoulos and now Charles Aranguiz, and we have a side who could quite realistically push Bayern across the league campaign this season. 

Augsburg at Home: Matchday 4

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Away from the bigger clubs and more notable banana skins awaiting Bayern this season, a tricky tie lies in the shadows: Bayern's home tie with Augsburg on Matchday 4. 

Despite their relatively modest size, the Bavarian side marched to a fifth-place finish last season through the expertise of Markus Weinzierl in the dugout and a collective brilliance across the pitch. 

Bayern weren't immune from such a jump in form, as Guardiola's side suffered defeat at the hands of their local rivals with a 1-0 loss in front of their own fans at the Allianz Arena. Unless Bayern are at their best at the very start of this coming campaign, a similar result may await them again.

Wolfsburg at Home: Matchday 6

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

There are a number of sides who could cause all sorts of bother for Bayern this season, but in truth the one team who look well prepared to go all the way are Wolfsburg. 

Dieter Hecking's side have shown their quality on a number of occasions against the Bavarian giants—most notably in the recent Super Cup win—and as long as they can hold on to Kevin De Bruyne, they have an excellent chance of pushing for the league title. 

Whether or not the Wolves are up to the task will first be asked on Matchday 6 when they travel to the Allianz Arena to face their Munich foes. There we will find if Germany and the Bundesliga finally have new contenders for the league title. 

Borussia Dortmund at Home: Matchday 8

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Aside from Wolfsburg gaining over one shoulder, Guardiola and his German champions would do well to look over their other one at a Borussia Dortmund team that may well play a part in this season's title race.

Very few have tipped new manager Thomas Tuchel and his side to be anywhere near the top of the table, yet a bright start to the season could well lump the Black and Yellows in with the rest of the sides chasing for a top-four finish and the hope of putting pressure on Bayern. 

Dortmund travel to Munich on October 3, when either they or Bayern may well be in full swing and ready for what many still consider as the marquee fixture in the Bundesliga calendar.

Dortmund always give Bayern a run for their money and may well scupper any league ambitions the Bavarians have this season.

Gladbach Away: Matchday 15

Kerstin Joensson/Associated Press

Bayern are perhaps used to having everything their own way in the Bundesliga, but the start to this coming season is notably easy on the current champions in terms of their campaign on the road. 

Despite facing the likes of Leverkusen, Wolfsburg and Dortmund at home, Guardiola's side don't arguably face a tricky away tie until December 5, when they travel to Borussia Park to face Borussia Moenchengladbach. 

Just two weeks before the divisions adjourns for the winter break, Lucien Favre's competent Foals will do their very best to dethrone the current champions.