2019/20 Bundesliga Season Preview
Teams, Locations, Important Dates
It feels like it was only last week that we finished one of the most competitive seasons in recent memory, and we’re already looking forward to the next one.
This year sees the introduction of a second Berlin team – FC Union Berlin, for the first time in their history, and making them the 56th club to feature in the top flight. Union did it the hard way, needing a win against middle table Bochum on the last match day of the season to secure second spot, only to draw 2-2. They then rallied to win through the playoffs against VfB Stuttgart, taking 2 away goals into their home fixture, which ended 0-0. This season also saw FC Nürnberg and Hannover 96 return to the second league. With these three teams, plus Hamburg HSV to battle it out for the top 4 spots, promotion will be anything but a given next season.
As often is, a large proportion of the clubs come out of Nordrhein-Westfalen. For the second year in a row, Bremen is the only ‘Norddeutsch’ club to feature, and with Union Berlin, we finally have a traditional East German Club back in the top flight.
At the other end of the table, and without bias, perhaps for the first time since the start of the decade, Bayern Munich won't be the raging hot favourites to win the title. After a flurry of action on the transfer market from Borussia Dortmund, Soft Drink Leipzig signing the best German Manager not named Jürgen Klopp, and Leverkusen and 'Gladbach seeing their youth continue to improve at a scarily fast pace, there are no easy matches in amongst these top teams.
The questions remain. Can Bayern continue their dominance. Will Dortmund's big spending pay off. Does Nagelsmann + Money = Success? Strap yourselves in - once again, the xG capital of Europe will once again give everyone value for their dollar.
Important Dates:
Fixture Draw: 28th June 2019
DFB Supercup – 4th August
First Round DFB Cup – 9-12 August
Season Opening Game – 16 August 2019
Winter Break – 22nd December – 17th January
Last Fixtures – 16th May 2020
Cup Final – 23rd May 2020