Classic match-up between Borussia Mönchengladbach and FC Bayern München to start the 59th Bundesliga season – Bundesliga 2 kicks off with FC Schalke 04 against Hamburger SV

Official Match Balls Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 from DERBYSTAR
Photo: DERBYSTAR

25 June 2021 – The Bundesliga will begin its 59th season on Friday, 13 August 2021, with a classic match-up between Borussia Mönchengladbach and FC Bayern München. The opener in BORUSSIA-PARK, which will also be the first league match of coaches Adi Hütter and Julian Nagelsmann for their new clubs, will kick off at 8:30 p.m. CEST. It will be the 107th time that the two clubs have played each other since the Bundesliga was founded.

Until 2016, the reigning Bundesliga Champions always had the right to play the opening game at home. Since then, only the Champions’ participation in the opening game is guaranteed.

The new Bundesliga 2 season begins three weeks earlier on Friday, 23 July 2021, when FC Schalke 04 play host to Hamburger SV in the VELTINS-Arena from 8:30 p.m. CEST.

The exact fixture list for the opening Bundesliga matchdays will be announced in the week commencing 5 July, while the fixtures for the first Bundesliga 2 matchdays will be confirmed a week earlier. Further announcements regarding the matchday schedules will be made during the course of the season, depending on, among other things, the involvement of the clubs in international competitions and in the DFB-Pokal.

The Supercup 2021 between the Bundesliga Champion FC Bayern München and DFB-Pokal winner Borussia Dortmund will be held at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK in Dortmund on Tuesday, 17 August 2021 (8:30 p.m. CEST).

The Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 match schedules, published today by DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga, can be downloaded here:

Key dates for the 2021–22 season at a glance:

  • Bundesliga, Matchday 1: 13–15 August 2021
  • Bundesliga, Matchday 34: 14 May 2022
  • Bundesliga 2, Matchday 1: 23–25 July 2021
  • Bundesliga 2, Matchday 34: 15 May 2022
  • Supercup: 17 August 2021