Bundesliga: Match schedules for the 2024/25 season have been finalised

Bayer Leverkusen’s mission to defend its title begins with a cracker away from home – and the fallen record champions FC Bayern Munich also have to start away on their way back to the German football throne. To kick off the 62nd Bundesliga season, the champions and cup winners from Leverkusen will face the explosive Rhine derby at Borussia Mönchengladbach on August 23rd.

The Munich team, with new coach Vincent Kompany, will be guests at VfL Wolfsburg on matchday 1. The duel with the defending champions will take place on matchday 5 (27-29 September) in Munich. The return match in Leverkusen will take place on matchday 22 (14-16 February 2025). This is evident from the match schedules published by the German Football League.

It is the first time in twelve years that Bayern are just spectators at the season opener, which was introduced in 2002. The Munich team, who only finished third last season and, after Julian Nagelsmann, have worn out their second star coach in a short space of time, Thomas Tuchel, can now watch in peace on TV how the Werkself, coached by champion Xabi Alonso, fare in Mönchengladbach. The free-TV broadcaster Sat.1 and the streaming service DAZN are broadcasting the match live.

Gladbach and Bayer Leverkusen open the Bundesliga

Last season, Leverkusen beat Gladbach 3-0. In the second half of the season, the score was 0-0 – it was the only domestic match of the season in which the double winners failed to score. The Rhineland rivals have faced each other three times on the first matchday of a season. In 1991, Bayer won 1-0 at home, and in 2016 (1-2) and 2018 (0-2) they lost away.

For Borussia, it is already the fourth opening game of the season. Before that, they played against Bayern three times. “We are delighted that Borussia Park is the venue for the first Bundesliga game of the new season and that we are therefore challenging the German champions,” said sports director Roland Virkus. Coach Gerardo Seoane’s team is hoping for a historic victory: in 22 years, no challenger has ever been able to beat the defending champions in the opening match.

Kiel’s Bundesliga premiere takes place away

Like Leverkusen, runners-up VfB Stuttgart are also expecting an explosive derby at the start of the season. VfB will face SC Freiburg on August 24th/25th. A week earlier, Stuttgart will challenge the double winners from Leverkusen in the Supercup on August 17th.

Newcomer Holstein Kiel has to play its Bundesliga debut away at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, but can then play twice at home against Wolfsburg and Bayern. “After that we know that we have arrived in the Bundesliga. Nevertheless, we are looking forward to the games and will go into them with full enthusiasm,” said Kiel’s managing director Carsten Wehlmann.

Fellow promoted team FC St. Pauli, on the other hand, can start in front of a home crowd. The Hamburg team will host 1. FC Heidenheim on matchday 1. Last year’s Champions League finalist Borussia Dortmund will also have home advantage in their opening match against Europa League participant Eintracht Frankfurt. The German Clasico between BVB and FC Bayern will take place on matchday 12 (November 29th – December 1st). Both teams will meet again in Munich on matchday 29 (April 11th – 13th, 2025). The season finale will take place on May 17th.

Classic second division opening

The start of the 2nd Bundesliga is also something special. On August 2nd (8.30 p.m.) there will be a traditional duel between Bundesliga relegated team 1. FC Köln and Hamburger SV. For HSV coach Steffen Baumgart it will be a return to his old stomping ground, and for new FC coach Gerhard Struber it will be a hot start. “It will be a great way for us to see how we are doing, playing against such a big opponent right from the start,” said Struber. The game will be broadcast by Sat.1 and Sky.

Note: This article has been updated.