Bundesliga Set to Kick Off with Bayern Munich Facing Stuttgart
The anticipation for a new season in one of Europe’s premier football leagues, the Bundesliga, comes to an end this Friday, August 28, as Bayern Munich hosts Stuttgart at 3:30 p.m. (Brasília time). With the likes of La Liga, Ligue 1, Serie A, Premier League, and Liga Portugal already underway, the Bundesliga is ready to join the ranks of top European competitions.
Fans and analysts alike are wondering if Bayern Munich, the reigning champions and Super Cup victors, will have a worthy contender this season. To stay updated on the latest developments, OneFootball offers a comprehensive overview of the Bundesliga’s 2026/27 season.
Promotion and New Additions in the League
In a triumphant return to the top flight, Schalke 04 secured their position after a three-season stint in Bundesliga 2, finishing strong at the top. Former Liverpool goalkeeper Karius remains in goal, while veteran striker Edin Dzeko has extended his contract with the club. Elversberg, representing a small town of 7,000 people, has made history by earning promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time. Additional promotion went to Paderborn, who clinched a third-place finish and replaced Wolfsburg, which finished 16th last season.
European Competition Berths and Relegation Rules
The Bundesliga’s structure for European spots is outlined as follows: The top four teams automatically qualify for the Champions League, with the possibility of a fifth spot based on the performance of German clubs in UEFA tournaments. The Europa League awaits the team in fifth position, while the sixth spot offers entry to the Conference League. The bottom two teams will be relegated directly, and the club finishing in 16th will face a playoff against the third-placed team from Bundesliga 2.
Broadcasting Options for Fans
Football fans will have various options to catch the Bundesliga matches. SporTV will cover 68 games in total, while Canal GOAT will air five matches per round. CazéTV is set for two matches per round; SportyNet will present three matches via YouTube and pay TV; Jovem Pan will broadcast one match per round on free-to-air TV and YouTube; Xsports will feature an undisclosed number of matches; and OneFootball offers pay-per-view access to all matches.
Matchday 1 Fixtures
The opening weekend of the Bundesliga features an exciting lineup:
Friday, August 28
- 3:30 p.m. – Bayern vs Stuttgart
Saturday, August 29
- 10:30 a.m. – Leipzig vs Borussia Mönchengladbach
- 10:30 a.m. – Mainz vs Paderborn
- 10:30 a.m. – Union Berlin vs Eintracht Frankfurt
- 10:30 a.m. – Cologne vs Hoffenheim
- 10:30 a.m. – Elversberg vs Bayer Leverkusen
- 1:30 p.m. – Borussia Dortmund vs Hamburg
Sunday, August 30
- 10:30 a.m. – Freiburg vs Werder Bremen
- 12:30 p.m. – Augsburg vs Schalke 04
The Champions in Their Sights
Bayern Munich stands out as the team to beat for this season. Coach Kompany retains all starting players, enhancing the squad with new signings such as Saibari, likely to provide support for Kane, and Nathaniel Brown, expected to take the left-back position. Borussia Dortmund aims to end a title drought that has lasted since the 2010/2011 season, bolstering the team with young talent including Konstantinos Karetsas.
Other clubs like Leipzig hope to capitalize on their Brazilian player Rômulo’s prowess, while Leverkusen has invested in new signings after a disappointing season. Eintracht Frankfurt seeks a rebound after falling short of expectations last year, while Hoffenheim looks to build on a strong previous performance and return to European competitions.
As the season unfolds, fans eagerly anticipate how these developments will affect the competitive landscape of the Bundesliga.
La Liga, Ligue 1, Serie A, Premier League, Liga Portugal…
Only the ball rolling in the Bundesliga was still missing among Europe’s top football leagues.
That wait will end this Friday (28), with Bayern vs Stuttgart kicking off at 3:30 p.m. (Brasília time).
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Will Bayern (already Super Cup champions) have a rival up to the task?
Check out OneFootball‘s big roundup of the competition’s 26/27 season below.
Who went up? 🔼
Schalke 04 returned to the top flight after three seasons in Bundesliga 2, crowned with the title.
Karius, formerly of Liverpool, remains in goal. And veteran Dzeko renewed his contract.
Elversberg made history with a first-ever promotion. They will represent a town of 7,000 inhabitants in the top flight.
The last spot went to Paderborn, who finished third and knocked out Wolfsburg, 16th in the last Bundesliga.
They had been out of the top flight since the 2019/2020 season.
👀 European spots breakdown
Champions League: The top four. Or five depending on the coefficient generated by German clubs’ participation in Uefa tournaments.
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Europa League: 5th
Conference League: 6th
Relegation: the bottom two go down directly. The team in 16th will face a two-legged playoff against the 3rd-placed team from Bundesliga 2.
Who’s broadcasting it? 📺
SporTV (secured a total of 68 matches), Canal GOAT (five matches per round), CazéTV (two matches per round), SportyNet (three matches per round via YouTube and pay TV), Jovem Pan (one match per round via free-to-air TV and YouTube), Xsports (an undisclosed number of matches) and OneFootball (all matches via pay-per-view) will be the options.
📆 Matchday 1 fixtures
28/8 – Friday
3:30 p.m. – Bayern vs Stuttgart
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29/8 – Saturday
10:30 a.m. – Leipzig vs Borussia Mönchengladbach
10:30 a.m. – Mainz vs Paderborn
10:30 a.m. – Union Berlin vs Eintracht Frankfurt
10:30 a.m. – Cologne vs Hoffenheim
10:30 a.m. – Elversberg vs Bayer Leverkusen
1:30 p.m. – Borussia Dortmund vs Hamburg
30/8 – Sunday
10:30 a.m. – Freiburg vs Werder Bremen
12:30 p.m. – Augsburg vs Schalke 04
Will anyone top Bayern?
The reigning champions are, once again, the team to beat.
Kompany did not lose a single starter.
And they also brought in Saibari, who looks set to be a reliable backup for Kane, and Nathaniel Brown, the likely new first-choice left-back.
📸 INA FASSBENDER – AFP or licensors
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Dortmund are trying to end a long title drought (they have not been champions since 2010/2011).
They bet on two young Greeks, for example, to improve Niko Kovač’s squad.
Special mention goes to Konstantinos Karetsas.
📸 Alex Grimm – 2026 Getty Images
Brazilian Rômulo looks set to be (again) one of Leipzig’s main attractions.
Leverkusen opened the checkbook after missing out on the Champions League.
Meanwhile, Eintracht Frankfurt are a question mark after a season below expectations.
There is also, for example, excitement after Hoffenheim’s strong season and their return to European competitions.
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And Schalke? Will they have a safe campaign in their return to the top flight?
MOST EXPENSIVE signings 💰
10th – Joey Veerman (M) – PSV ➡️ Dortmund – 22 million euros
9th – Facundo Medina (CB) – Marseille ➡️ Leverkusen – 23 million euros
8th – Dzenan Pejcinovic (F) – Wolfsburg ➡️ Stuttgart – 25 million euros
7th – Maxime Estève (CB) – Burnley ➡️ Leipzig – 25 million euros
6th – Giannis Konstantelias (M) – PAOK ➡️ Dortmund – 26 million euros
5th – Miguel Gutiérrez (LB) – Napoli ➡️ Leverkusen – 26 million euros
4th – Afonso Moreira (F) – Lyon ➡️ Leverkusen – 29.5 million euros
3rd – Konstantinos Karetsas (M) – Genk ➡️ Dortmund – 30 million euros
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2nd – Nathaniel Brown (LB) – Eintracht Frankfurt ➡️ Bayern – 50 million euros
1st – Ismael Saibari (F) – PSV ➡️ Bayern – 50 million euros
All the Brazilians 🇧🇷
Leverkusen: Arthur (RB)
Dortmund: Kauã Prates (LB)
Eintracht: Kauã Santos (GK) and Otávio (CB)
Hoffenheim: Arthur Chaves (CB) and Bernardo (LB)
Leipzig: Rômulo (F)
🏆 Titles ranking*
Bayern Munich – (35) – 1932, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1993–94, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2024–25 and 2025–26
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Nuremberg – (9) – 1920, 1921, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1936, 1948, 1961 and 1967–68
Borussia Dortmund – (8) – 1956, 1957, 1963, 1994–95, 1995–96, 2001–02, 2010–11 and 2011–12
Schalke 04 – (7) – 1934, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1940, 1942 and 1958
Hamburg – (6) – 1923, 1928, 1960, 1978–79, 1981–82 and 1982–83
Borussia Mönchengladbach – (5) – 1969–70, 1970–71, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77
Stuttgart – (5) – 1950, 1952, 1983–84, 1991–92 and 2006–07
Kaiserslautern – (4) – 1951, 1953, 1990–91 and 1997–98
Werder Bremen – (4) – 1964–65, 1987–88, 1992–93 and 2003–04
Cologne – (3) – 1962, 1963–64 and 1977–78
Lokomotive Leipzig – (3) – 1903, 1906 and 1913
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Greuther Fürth – (3) – 1914, 1926 and 1929
Hertha – (2) – 1930 and 1931
Viktoria Berlin – (2) – 1908 and 1911
Dresdner SC – (2) – 1943 and 1944
Hannover 96 – (2) – 1938 and 1954
Freiburger FC (1) – 1907
Karlsruher FV – (1) – 1910
Holstein Kiel – (1) – 1912
SpVg Blau-Weiß 90 Berlin (1) – 1905
Karlsruher SC – (1) – 1909
Fortuna Düsseldorf – (1) – 1933
Rapid Wien – (1) – 1941
VfR Mannheim – (1) – 1949
Rot-Weiss Essen – (1) – 1955
Eintracht Frankfurt – (1) – 1959
1860 Munich – (1) – 1965
Eintracht Braunschweig – (1) – 1966-1967
Wolfsburg – (1) – 2008–09
Bayer Leverkusen – (1) – 2023-2024
*Ranking covering all editions in the history of the German championship.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
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