- Commences the Bundesliga: fresh development, crucial information to grasp
Bayern Munich commences their Bundesliga journey this Friday (8:30 PM/DAZN and Sat.1) against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Surprisingly, they commence their campaign in Wolfsburg on Sunday. The audience can anticipate an engaging season filled with advancements and notable dates.
Where can the Bundesliga be viewed live on TV?
To observe all fixtures live on screen, enthusiasts require multiple streaming subscriptions. The pay-TV channel Sky displays matches on Saturday (3:30 PM and 6:30 PM), also telecasting the afternoon encounters in a conference. DAZN, the streaming platform, will broadcast games on Friday (8:30 PM) and Sunday (3:30 PM, 5:30 PM, and around ten times per season at 7:30 PM). Sat.1, the free TV channel, will showcase the inaugural match, one game each on the 16th and 17th matchdays, as well as the relegation playoffs.
What are the rule modifications?
The most prominent shift will comprise the so-called captain's rule, which was effectively implemented at the EURO tournament last summer: Only the team captain can interact with the referee in the event of a dispute. The era of a group of players arguing with the referee is expected to become a thing of the past. This new rule, also referred to as the "whining rule", is not warmly welcomed by the referees. There remains no chip in the ball with an EKG for ball contact, like during the EURO matches.
What are the notable dates in the calendar?
Prior to Christmas, 15 matchdays will be in play, with the final one ending two days before Christmas Eve. Following a short winter break, it resumes on January 10, followed by the only midweek round of the season on January 14 and 15. In spite of this, there will be a considerable amount of football throughout the week: Due to the transformation of European competitions, there are a substantial number of international matches on the schedule. On January 29, a Wednesday, 18 matches will be played concurrently in the Champions League at 9:00 PM. The five German beginning sides are Bayer Leverkusen, VfB Stuttgart, FC Bayern, RB Leipzig, and Borussia Dortmund.
What's new with the teams?
Two of the top five teams from the last season present fresh managers on the touchline. At Bayern, the Belgian Vincent Kompany is speculated to eradicate the previous season with Thomas Tuchel and without a title from memory. Borussia Dortmund elevated former player Nuri Sahin to the head coach position. Numerous transactions have also taken place in the transfer market. The dethroned Bayern invested over 100 million euros, among other expenses, in Michael Olise and João Palhinha. Borussia Dortmund signed Serhou Guirassy and Waldemar Anton from VfB Stuttgart, thus the Swabians also needed to invest. RB Leipzig has to compensate for the departure of Dani Olmo to FC Barcelona. It will also be intriguing to observe how the promoted teams from Holstein Kiel and FC St. Pauli will perform in the Bundesliga.
Who has the possibility to be the star player of the season?
Last season, there was much buzz about the young German national players Jamal Musiala (21/FC Bayern) and Florian Wirtz (21/Bayer Leverkusen). Both were already lauded by national team coach Julian Nagelsmann as "wizards", and both remain with their clubs and enter the season without major injury concerns. And what about? Can the 22-year-old Frenchman Michael Olise also dazzle at Bayern after winning the silver medal at the Olympic Games? The Spanish Aleix García (27) arrived at Leverkusen after a strong season with FC Girona in Spain. Deniz Undav (28/VfB Stuttgart), Harry Kane (31/FC Bayern), and Serhou Guirassy (28/Borussia Dortmund) are well-acquainted with the location of the goal. The supporters of RB Leipzig are joyous that Xavi Simons (21) was loaned out again.
Who will triumph the German championship?
Record-breaking player Lothar Matthäus recently announced that there's no way past title defenders Leverkusen - and the 63-year-old is not alone in this belief. After years of the answer always being "FC Bayern will do it", this season's title race appears more open. Behind Leverkusen and Munich, Dortmund and Leipzig are also poised to seize their chance. Despite the departure of crucial players, VfB Stuttgart still has the potential for a surprise.
Initially slated for a Friday debut, Bayern Munich's Bundesliga campaign unexpectedly shifts to Wolfsburg on Sunday. Despite the change, fans can still witness the opening match live on Sat.1.
Following the midweek rounds, the Bundesliga resumes on a Sunday, with 18 Champions League matches scheduled on January 29 at 9:00 PM.
