Matchday 1 Preview

All season long premium subscribers will receive exclusive previews for the upcoming round of Bundesliga fixtures. Today, game week 1 kicks off!

The Bundesliga is back! Borussia Mönchengladbach kicks things off by hosting Bayer Leverkusen in a thrilling Rhein-Derby, while Borussia Dortmund takes on Eintracht Frankfurt in Saturday’s prime-time clash. With so many exciting matchups on matchday 1, the season promises to start with a bang.

For the first game week the preview will be available for all, but moving forward, only premium subscribers to the German Football Weekly, are offered a comprehensive preview and prediction of every Bundesliga fixture. Let the games begin!

Borussia Mönchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen 

The 2024/25 Bundesliga season kicks off at the Borussia Park in Mönchengladbach, where the hosts, Borussia Mönchengladbach, are looking to rebound from their worst league finish since 2011. Last season's 14th-place finish left Gladbach dangerously close to relegation for the first time in over 15 years.In response, managing director Roland Virkus has made some bold moves early in the transfer window to ensure "Die Fohlen" remain in the top flight. The club brought in Tim Kleindienst from FC Heidenheim, a classic penalty-box forward, and Kevin Stöger, whose creative abilities will also bolster their attack.

Goalscoring wasn’t necessarily the biggest issue in Gladbach last season - Die Fohlen had the 7th best attack - but Stöger and Kleindienst will elevate this quality further given their combined 19 goals and 9 assists last campaign. 

However, the more urgent concern is Gladbach’s defensive frailty, which has yet to be addressed. Last season, Gladbach conceded 67 goals in 34 matches, the third-worst record in the league. The situation has also worsened ahead of the new season, with Maximilian Wöber's loan not being made permanent and Nico Elvedi sidelined for the opening fixture due to an ankle injury.

This defensive vulnerability was evident just 8 minutes into their DFB Pokal first-round match, where third-tier Erzgebirge Aue took a shocking early lead. While Gladbach's rejuvenated attack eventually secured a 3-1 victory, such lapses won't go unpunished against a stronger opponent like Bayer Leverkusen.

Leverkusen enters the season brimming with confidence.  Despite playing over an hour with 10 men, penalties secured Leverkusen their first title of the season against VfB Stuttgart in the German Super Cup. Patrick Schick and Victor Boniface found the net for Xabi Alonso’s side, underscoring their status as the most feared team in Germany.

While expecting another unbeaten campaign might be overly ambitious, Leverkusen certainly have the credentials to be serious title contenders. They retained their key players, with Josip Stanišić being the only notable departure from the BayArena.

As the season opener approaches, all signs point to a strong start for Leverkusen against a familiar rival in Gladbach. Despite the short 50-kilometer distance between the two clubs, the gap in quality on the pitch has been significant in recent years. Leverkusen have won their last six matches at the Borussia Park, and it’s hard to see that trend being broken this Friday.

Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen Win

RB Leipzig v VfL Bochum 

RB Leipzig return to the new campaign with a home match in the Red Bull Arena. Die Rotten Bullen have failed to win their opening fixture for the past three seasons in a row, putting the pressure on Marco Rose to kickstart the campaign with a convincing victory. 

This season carries added weight for Leipzig as they look to take the next step in their evolution. Despite winning two DFB Pokals and securing top-four finishes in the Bundesliga for the past six years, a sustained title challenge has remained elusive. That could change this season, as Leipzig have managed to retain the core of last year’s squad.

Key players like Loïs Openda, Benjamin Sesko, and Xavi Simons are still with the club, while the summer acquisition of Antonio Nusa seems like a smart move to replace the departed Dani Olmo. The Norwegian forward brings electrifying speed, exceptional dribbling, and heaps of potential to East Germany. Although his history of injuries raises some concerns, Nusa has already made an impact, scoring on his debut in Leipzig’s 4-1 DFB Pokal win.

Meanwhile, VfL Bochum’s DFB Pokal outing was one to forget. For the second consecutive year, they were knocked out in the first round by lower-league opposition. After a summer of significant changes, Bochum will be under close scrutiny this season, with drastic improvements needed to stay in the Bundesliga. Manager Peter Zeidler faces a particularly tough challenge in the final third, as the club’s top three scorers from last season —Kevin Stöger, Takuma Asano, and Keven Schlotterbeck—have all moved on.

Prediction: RB Leipzig Win

Mainz 05 v Union Berlin 

Mainz 05 - like so many of the top-flight outfits - left it late for an important victory in the DFB Pokal first round. The team went down 1-0 to third-tier Wehen Wiesbaden but managed to advance with a 3-1 victory after extra time. Goals from Dominik Kohr, Jonathan Burkardt, and Nadiem Amiri sealed the comeback. 

Burkardt and Amiri will play increasingly vital roles for Mainz this season, especially after the club-record €30 million sale of Brajan Gruda to Brighton & Hove Albion. Burkardt’s late-season surge of six goals and two assists in the final nine matches was instrumental in Mainz’s survival, while Amiri quickly became a key player after initially joining on loan from Bayer Leverkusen in January, a move now made permanent.

Meanwhile, Union Berlin will be hoping for a more stable season after the tumultuous ride of 2023/24, which saw the team juggle Champions League commitments, a relegation battle, and three different managers. To steer clear of such chaos, Union have been active in correcting the mistakes of the previous summer’s transfer window, parting ways with 13 players so far, with more likely to follow as the club aims to trim its wage bill. 

Despite the departures, there have been some promising signings including Leopold Querfeld, Laszlo Benes, and Ivan Prtajin. However, the most significant addition is probably in the managerial dugout. Bo Svensson, a masterful man-manager, arrives after a long tenure at Mainz 05, where he played 122 matches as a player and spent nearly three years as manager. Svensson played a crucial role in cementing Mainz as a stable mid-table Bundesliga team, adding an emotional layer to his first Bundesliga match with Union, which fittingly comes against his former club.

Prediction: Mainz 05 Win

TSG Hoffenheim v Holstein Kiel 

TSG Hoffenheim kick off their Bundesliga season at home, eager to secure their first matchday 1 victory since a 4-0 win over FC Augsburg in 2021.

Die Kraichgauer are one of the most unpredictable teams heading into the new campaign. Their summer has been overshadowed by off-field turmoil, with multiple management figures either stepping down or being ousted from their position. This instability has left its mark on their summer transfer dealings, where Hoffenheim still seem to have significant gaps to fill.

The need for a top-tier center-back and right-back remains urgent, and the departure of top scorer Maximilian Beier (16 goals and 3 assists) is likely to have a significant impact. Adam Hlozek has been brought in as his replacement for a club-record €18 million, but the signing comes with some risks. Hlozek is undeniably talented, but after playing less than 500 league minutes for Leverkusen last season, he now faces the challenge of proving he can become a key Bundesliga player almost overnight.

For Holstein Kiel, Saturday’s match marks a historic milestone. For the first time in their 125-year history, Holstein will play Bundesliga football. As the 57th and most northern team to ever compete in the Bundesliga, simply being part of the league is a massive achievement.

However, Holstein Kiel isn't just here to make up the numbers; they’ll be looking to make their mark, much like FC Heidenheim did last season. While the squad lacks a designated star, their collective strength and the leadership of their ambitious young manager Marcel Rapp make them a team capable of achieving great things.

Prediction: TSG Hoffenheim Win 

SC Freiburg v VfB Stuttgart 

For the first time since the 2010/11 season, SC Freiburg will begin a campaign without Christian Streich on the sidelines. The 59-year-old had become synonymous with the club, making his absence a significant challenge that Freiburg’s players, staff, and fans will need to overcome together.

Taking over the reins is Julian Schuster. Though the 39-year-old is new to coaching, he brings valuable experience as a former Freiburg captain and talent coordinator. While questions about his suitability for the role remain, his early tenure has been promising. Die Breisgauer went unbeaten in pre-season and cruised to a commanding 4-0 victory over VfL Osnabrück in the first round of the DFB Pokal.

The young Schuster era faces its toughest test yet against VfB Stuttgart this weekend. Die Schwaben were surprising runners-up in the Bundesliga last season, earning a return to the Champions League for the first time in over a decade. Stuttgart also put up a strong fight in last weekend’s DFL Supercup, narrowly losing a thrilling contest against Bayer Leverkusen.

While Freiburg have had to cope with the loss of one iconic figure, Stuttgart have seen several key players depart during the off-season. Star striker Serhou Guirassy, along with defensive stalwarts Waldemar Anton and Hiroki Ito, have moved on to new opportunities within the Bundesliga. Although Stuttgart has a history of quickly bouncing back from major losses, the pressure is now on a young and relatively untested squad to find its footing across three competitions.

Prediction: VfB Stuttgart Win

FC Augsburg v Werder Bremen 

On Saturday afternoon, FC Augsburg will kick off their 14th consecutive Bundesliga campaign. Die Fuggerstädter may boast one of the most attractive away kits in the league, but it’s their hardworking, no-nonsense style of play that has kept them in the top flight for nearly two decades.

Next season should be no different, although the risk of abject failure is looming quite large given the significant departure of Ermedin Demirovic. Not only was Demirovic a source of steady output, but he was often the only influential goal threat in the roster. In fact, of the 50 goals Augsburg scored last season, a staggering 25 were either scored or assisted by Demirovic. Every second goal that Augsburg scored last season involved their now-departed number 9! 

Werder Bremen, a club familiar with the challenge of replacing a key forward, enter this season with familiar concerns. After losing Niclas Füllkrug late in last summer’s transfer window, many feared the worst for Bremen in their second season back in the Bundesliga. Although Ole Werner’s side flirted with the relegation zone throughout the campaign, they ultimately secured a commendable 9th-place finish.

To build on that success, Bremen needed to be active in the transfer market, but their efforts have been underwhelming so far. Apart from making Skelly Alvero's loan permanent and signing German youth prospect Keke Topp for €4.8 million, there have been no significant additions to challenge for a starting spot. A Keke Topp hat-trick in Bremen’s 4:1 DFB Pokal Triumph shows what the 20-year-old prospect is capable of, but Bremen should still look to add a few more attacking additions in the final weeks of the window. 

Prediction: Draw

Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt

Just like last season's opening weekend, Borussia Dortmund have secured the coveted 18:30 slot for a highly anticipated clash against Eintracht Frankfurt. Die Schwarz-Gelben are unbeaten in their last six encounters with Frankfurt, and this season’s squad looks poised to deliver the kind of possession-based football that could see them challenging for the league title just a year after enduring their worst Bundesliga finish in nearly a decade.

Dortmund have already invested over €80 million this summer, bringing in a well-balanced mix of global talents like Maximilian Beier and Yan Couto, alongside experienced campaigners such as Serhou Guirassy, Waldemar Anton, and Pascal Groß. 

However, the biggest question mark lies in the dugout, where Nuri Şahin steps in to replace Edin Terzić. Şahin, a highly-regarded tactician, was instrumental in Dortmund’s strong finish last season, but at just 35 years old and with limited high-level coaching experience—having spent 2.5 years with Antalyaspor in the Turkish Süper Lig—doubts remain about his ability to bring the Meisterschale back to Signal Iduna Park.

An underwhelming pre-season has only added to these concerns, with Dortmund managing just three wins from six matches, including a surprising 4-0 loss to Thai top-flight outfit Pathum United.

Hoping to take advantage of Dortmund’s poor pre-season are Eintracht Frankfurt. Die Adler won 4 of their 5 pre-season tests and enjoyed an excellent second half in the DFB Pokal to put 4 goals past second-tier Eintracht Braunschweig (4:1 end result). 

The crucial difference maker in Monday night’s Pokal triumph was undoubtedly Hugo Ekitike. The Frenchman assisted Fares Chaibi’s opener, before scoring two more excellent goals in quick succession. At 1,89m Ekitike has the stature to provide an aerial outlet and engage in physical contests, but it is his superb technical quality that makes him such an attractive prospect for whom Frankfurt happily paid €16.50m for this summer. Ekitike’s elegant dribbling and versatile finishing quality make him a huge threat to Bundesliga defenses this season. If he can maintain fitness and remain injury-free, his selection could make the difference in Frankfurt’s quest to break into the top four for the first time since the 1992/1993 season under Horst Heese. 

Prediction: Borussia Dortmund Win

VfL Wolfsburg v FC Bayern 

VfL Wolfsburg will kick off the first Sunday fixture of the Bundesliga season by hosting FC Bayern at the Volkswagen Arena. Wolfsburg have not beaten Bayern since 2015, and this match poses an unusual challenge for Bayern as well, who have traditionally opened the season on a Friday night for the past decade.

The head-to-head history clearly favors the visitors, and Wolfsburg’s pre-season form doesn’t inspire confidence that they can give Bayern an early scare. In five pre-season matches against evenly matched European opponents—RSC Anderlecht, LOSC Lille, Hannover 96, Como 1907, and FC Brentford—Wolfsburg managed just one win while conceding nine goals. In the DFB Pokal, they managed to forgo a disaster, but the slender 1:0 win over German 5th-tier opposition TuS Koblenz did little to inspire confidence ahead of such a difficult fixture. Ralph Hasenhüttl is undoubtedly a talented manager, and Wolfsburg is fortunate to have him, however, there is a lingering sense that the squad is poorly constructed to fit his tactical vision. Wolfsburg have the 6th largest wage bill in the Bundesliga, and there are clearly too many overpriced players coasting on Volkswagen’s financial backing.

Bayern, on the other hand, are eager to reclaim the league title after their run of 11 consecutive championships was interrupted by Bayer Leverkusen. With Vincent Kompany at the helm and new signings Joao Palhinha and Michael Olise in the squad, Bayern have fresh talent to boost their title ambitions. However, whether these additions are enough to cover the cracks that were evident last season remains to be seen.

The defense is still a major concern. Bayern lacks depth at right-back following an injury to Josip Stanisic, and the center-back pairing of Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-Jae has yet to prove itself after an error-prone campaign. While Bayern should have enough firepower to overcome Wolfsburg, they will need to address these significant issues if they hope to win the league.

Prediction: FC Bayern Win

St. Pauli v FC Heidenheim 

The final fixture of matchday one brings Bundesliga football back to the Millerntor for the first time since 2011. After years of waiting, a Hamburg club has finally returned to the top tier, but instead of the long-standing HSV, it’s the city’s boisterous rivals, St. Pauli, who have secured their place in the Bundesliga.

St. Pauli enter the season riding high after a dominant campaign in the 2. Bundesliga where they clinched the title with just five losses. The team, known as Die Kiezkicker, should theoretically be brimming with confidence, however, their preparations for this topflight return have been overshadowed by the departure of top scorer Marcel Hartel (17 goals and 13 assists) and manager Fabian Hürzeler.

In an effort to steady the ship, St. Pauli have brought in Alexander Blessin, an accomplished manager from Belgian cup winners Union Saint-Gilloise. Yet, early signs suggest the team is still finding its footing. Their first-round DFB Pokal match against fourth-tier Hallescher FC highlighted these struggles, as St. Pauli narrowly escaped with a 3-2 victory, needing a 94th-minute equalizer to force extra time and avoid a major upset.

As they prepare for their Bundesliga opener, St. Pauli could look to their upcoming opponents, FC Heidenheim, as a source of inspiration. Last season, Heidenheim defied all expectations as the ultimate underdogs, finishing an impressive 8th and earning a spot in the Conference League, marking the most successful debut season for a promoted side since VfB Stuttgart in 2018. Despite losing key attacking players over the summer and facing the daunting task of balancing domestic survival with European commitments, Heidenheim will be eager to kick off their season with a crucial three points.

Prediction: FC Heidenheim Win