Opening days are almost always memorable affairs in the Bundesliga. The Friday match tends to be a close affair more often than not. This time, considering the plethora of stars Bayern is missing, the opening match could be more than just exciting; it could produce a shocking result. Wolfsburg has been dubbed a contender rather than a pretender coming into this season. They have the right players to mount a serious challenge. Bayern is missing Javi Martinez, Thiago Alcantara, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Rafinha just to name a few players.
Their main title contenders, Borussia Dortmund, is also missing a host of players. Ilkay Gündogan's last appearance seems to be a long lost memory while Marco Reus has only recovered recently from injury. Mats Hummels, Erik Durm and Kevin Grosskreutz joined up with the squad much later than the rest of the players due to Germany's long World Cup campaign as well. Nuri Sahin is nursing an injury too. Of course, new players are still trying to fit in with the rest; this is set to be a big season for both Ciro Immobile and Adrian Ramos. Borussia's previous striking recruit, Julian Schieber, did not exactly live up to his billing.
They will take part in one of the biggest fixtures of the first Matchday against another perpetual contender but never the winner, Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Leverkusen has strengthened over the summer and will be looking to finally land winners' medals as will Schalke 04. Already out of the Pokal, Schalke will participate in the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League this season. They have also strengthened over the summer without losing out any big names.
Another big fixture aside from these games is Gladbach vs Stuttgart. Stuttgart spent much of the previous season battling relegation. Gladbach has become a genuine contender in recent seasons and will threaten to break into the top four yet again. Elsewhere, Mainz begins life without Thomas Tuchel and under Kasper Hjulmand. Tuchel worked wonders with limited resources. Will Hjulmand be able to do the same?
Mainz's first opponent is newly promoted Paderborn, a team which won many plaudits for its style of play in 2.Bundesliga. One of the Bundesliga's biggest fans of attacking play, Thomas Schaaf has returned to the Bundesliga as well. He will begin his stint with a club not named Werder Bremen. He is the new coach of Eintracht Frankfurt following the departure of Armin Veh to Stuttgart.
All in all, the first day of the new season is set to bring in many early shocks. Do not miss it!
Matchday One: LIVE fixtures schedule & broadcast channel listings
Friday, August 22, 2014
14:30 EST / 19:30 BST – FC Bayern München vs VfL Wolfsburg
- In USA: GOLTV USA, MyGermanTV +
- In Canada: GolTV Canada
- In UK: BT Sport 1
- Germany: ARD Das Erste, ARD Live Stream, Sport1.FM, Sky Go
Saturday, August 23, 2014
09:30 EST / 14:30 BST – TSG 1899 Hoffenheim vs FC Augsburg
- In USA: Not Available
- In Canada: Not Available
- In UK: Not Available
- Germany: Sport1.FM, Sky Go, Sky Bundesliga 6/HD
09:30 EST / 14:30 BST – Hannover 96 vs Schalke 04
- In USA: GOLTV USA
- In Canada: Not Available
- In UK: Not Available
- Germany: Sky Bundesliga 3/HD, Sport1.FM, Sky Go
09:30 EST / 14:30 BST – Hertha Berlin vs SV Werder Bremen
- In USA: Not Available
- In Canada: Not Available
- In UK: Not Available
- Germany: Sky Bundesliga 4/HD, Sport1.FM, Sky Go
09:30 EST / 14:30 BST – Eintracht Frankfurt vs SC Freiburg
- In USA: Not Available
- In Canada: Not Available
- In UK: Not Available
- Germany: Sky Bundesliga 5/HD, Sport1.FM, Sky Go
09:30 EST / 14:30 BST – FC Köln vs Hamburger SV
- In USA: Not Available
- In Canada: Not Available
- In UK: Not Available
- Germany: Sky Bundesliga 2/HD, Sky Go, Sport1.FM
12:30 EST / 17:30 BST – Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen
- In USA: GOLTV USA
- In Canada: Not Available
- In UK: BT Sport 1
- Germany: Sky 3D Germany, Sky Bundesliga 1/HD, Sport1.FM, Sky Go
Sunday, August 24, 2014
09:30 EST / 14:30 BST – SC Paderborn vs Mainz 05
- In USA: Not Available
- In Canada: Not Available
- In UK: BT Sport 1
- Germany: Sky Bundesliga 2/HD, Sport1.FM, Sky Go
11:30 EST / 16:30 BST – Borussia Mönchengladbach vs VfB Stuttgart
- In USA: GOLTV USA
- In Canada: Not Available
- In UK: BT Sport 1
- Germany: Sport1.FM, Sky Go
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