Bundesliga opener - Leverkusen start with derby - Bayern also have to travel
The Title Defense for Bayer Leverkusen begins abroad with a cracker jack duel, and even the disciplined record champions FC Bayern Munchen have to start their way back to the German football throne in enemy territory. At the start of the 62nd Bundesliga season, the Meister and Pokalsieger from Leverkusen are expected to face the bracing Rhine Derby against Borussia Monchengladbach on August 23.
The Munich team with new coach Vincent Kompany will be guests at VfL Wolfsburg on the first matchday. The encounter with the title holder comes already at the fifth matchday (27.-29. September) in Munich. The return match in Leverkusen rises at the 22nd matchday (14.-16. February 2025). This becomes clear from the schedules that the German Football League has published.
It's the first time in twelve years that the Bayern have only been spectators at the 2002 introduced season opener. The Munich team, which finished third in the previous season and lost their second star coach in quick succession from Thomas Tuchel to Julian Nagelsmann, can therefore observe in peace how the Werkself of Meister-Coach Xabi Alonso fares in Monchengladbach. The free-TV broadcaster Sat.1 and the streaming service DAZN will broadcast the game live.
Borussia vs. Bayer for the fourth time at the start of the season
In the previous season, Leverkusen won in Gladbach with a score of 3:0. In the second round, there was a 0:0 - it was the only national league game of the double winner where Bayer failed to score. At the start of a season, the derby of the Rhineland rivals has occurred three times so far. In their own stadium, Bayer won 1:0 in 1991, while there were away losses in 2016 (1:2) and 2018 (0:2).
For Borussia, it is already the fourth season opening game. Previously, it went three times against the Bayern. "We are very happy that Borussia-Park is the venue for the first Bundesliga game of the new season and we therefore challenge the German champion accordingly," said sport business manager Roland Virkus. The team of coach Gerardo Seoane hopes for a historic victory: In 22 years, no challenger has managed to defeat the title holder at the start.
Kiel's Bundesliga debut is an away game
Like Leverkusen, Vizemeister VfB Stuttgart also face a tense derby at the start of the season. The VfB must play against SC Freiburg on August 24/25. A week earlier, the Stuttgart team challenges the double winner from Leverkusher in the Supercup.
Newcomer Holstein Kiel must face their Bundesliga debut away at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, but then they can play against Wolfsburg and the Bayern twice at home. "We know that we have made it to the Bundesliga. Nevertheless, we are looking forward to the games and will go into them with full enthusiasm," said Kiel's business manager Carsten Wehlmann.
FC St. Pauli can start at home
However, FC St. Pauli can start at home. The Hamburg team receives 1. FC Heidenheim as their first opponent. The previous Champions League finalist Borussia Dortmund enjoys home advantage against Europa League participant Eintracht Frankfurt to start with. The German Clasico between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern rises at the 12th matchday (29. November-1. December). In Munich, both teams face each other again at the 29th matchday (11.-13. April 2025). The season finale takes place on May 17.
Classic at the second league opener
The 2nd Bundesliga opener also has its tradition match. On 2nd August (20:30 Uhr), the encounter between Bundesliga relegated 1. FC Cologne and Hamburger SV will take place. For HSV trainer Steffen Baumgart, it will be a return to his former workplace, while for new FC coach Gerhard Struber, it promises to be a hot start.
"For us, it's a great determination of position, to play the opener against such a big opponent," said Struber. The match will be broadcasted by Sat.1 and Sky.
- Bayer Leverkusen, led by Meister-Coach Xabi Alonso, begins their Title Defense in the Bundesliga against Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Rhine Derby on August 23.
- Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen are expected to face tough competition in their Title Defense, with FC Bayern Munchen starting their Title defense journey in enemy territory.
- Journeying to VfL Wolfsburg, the Munich team with new coach Vincent Kompany will start their campaign on the first matchday.
- The encounter with the title holder comes already at the fifth matchday for Bayern, as they host Bayer Leverkusen in Munich.
- The return match in Leverkusen rises at the 22nd matchday, making it clear from the schedules published by the German Football League (DFL).
- Borussia Mönchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen have a history of intense derbies, with Leverkusen winning 3-0 in the previous season, but drawing 0-0 in the second round.
- Borussia Mönchengladbach hopes to achieve a historic victory against the title holder at the start of the season, as no challenger has managed to defeat the title holder at the start in the past 22 years.
- VfB Stuttgart, the Vizemeister, also face a tense derby at the start of the season against SC Freiburg.
- Newcomer Holstein Kiel, who have made it to the Bundesliga, will begin their Bundesliga debut away at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
- FC St. Pauli can start at home this season, receiving 1. FC Heidenheim as their first opponent.
- Borussia Dortmund will enjoy home advantage against Europa League participant Eintracht Frankfurt to start with, and the German Clasico between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern rises at the 12th matchday.
- The traditional match of the 2nd Bundesliga opener will see 1. FC Cologne face Hamburger SV, with new FC coach Gerhard Struber promising to face a hot start against Steffen Baumgart's HSV.
