Three big hits on the opening day: the release of the match schedule for the 1st and 2nd leagues increases the anticipation of the clubs and fans. But the World Cup also brings headaches.
Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Bayern Munich open the 60th Bundesliga season with the two-month break due to the World Cup in Qatar.
The Europa League winner and the subscription champion meet on August 5 (8:30 p.m. / Sat.1 and DAZN) in Frankfurt. The start offers two more crackers with the duel between Champions League participants Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen and the Berlin city derby between 1. FC Union and Hertha BSC. In the 2022/23 season, professional football faces very special challenges.
risk of overload
The numerous Bayern national players say goodbye to everyday league life after the encounter at FC Schalke 04 (11th to 13th November) towards the World Cup, which takes place from 21st November to 18th December. After the winter break, it will not continue until January 20, 2023. The first highlight before the new round is already the Supercup between the champions from Munich and DFB Cup winner RB Leipzig on July 30 (8:30 p.m./Sat.1. and Sky) in Leipzig.
Apart from that, Bayern have 15 Bundesliga match days, six group games in the Champions League and two rounds of the DFB Cup by mid-November. In addition, there are two Nations League games with the national team for the DFB players at the end of September against Hungary and England. That’s a maximum of 26 competitive games in 15 weeks.
Not only tournament veteran Manuel Neuer sees the danger of overload. “I think the program is just very, very full. There are only English weeks for the teams that play internationally, »said the 36-year-old goalkeeper from FC Bayern, who has played in all world and European championships since 2010. The desert World Cup in Qatar was criticized from the start because of its date.
There is just over a week between the last Bundesliga matchday and the start of the World Cup, which is why there is no real tournament preparation for the national coaches like Hansi Flick this time.
Game hole for many players because of the World Cup
On the weekend of October 7th to 9th, the Munich team will be playing at their long-time rival for a first showdown with Borussia Dortmund. After ten championship titles in a row, the decision in 2023 could be made on the penultimate day when Bayern receive RB Leipzig.
At the start of the season in Frankfurt, Bayern can get ready for a warm welcome: for Eintracht fans, this is another highlight after the extensively celebrated triumph in Seville. “It is a special honor for us to be the host of the opening game of the 60th Bundesliga season,” said Eintracht board spokesman Axel Hellmann. As the defending champions, Bayern are traditionally entitled to the first game.
The publication of the match schedule by the German Football League (DFL) on Friday gave the second division champions and newly promoted FC Schalke 04 an opening game at 1. FC Köln. The exact times for the first seven matchdays should be available at the end of June.
The clubs are not only concerned with the enormous strain during the World Cup season, but also with the game hole for the numerous professionals who are not traveling with their national teams in November and December. “We have to make it a bit interesting for those who aren’t at the World Cup and take a vacation break accordingly,” said Mainz coach Bo Svensson. “This is new territory for us, so we have to think a lot about how we can complete this time properly.”
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
