Endlich the league erupts as Bayern dominate while Schalke return
Endlich the Liga kicks off this Wochenende as the Fußballalltag resumes in the Nachbarland, with Bayern Munich poised to defend their dominance while Schalke 04 celebrate a return to the top flight. Fragen, Antworten and Zitate line up ahead of the Saisonstart, setting the tone for the new campaign.
Opening clash sets the tone
Am Freitag the 64th Spielzeit of the Fußball-Bundesliga begins with the Eröffnungsspiel at 20.30 Uhr. The Cup- and Supercupsieger Bayern München host the VfB Stuttgart, broadcast on Sky and Puls, and the match will decide Wer claims the early Meister title. Natürlich Bayern enter as the Favorit for the Saison, riding the momentum of last season’s Supercup triumph. The Zeit and Spielzeit are set, and Bayer Leverkusen also prepare for their campaign.
Bayern chase third title
Vincent Kompany, the Erfolgstrainer of FC Bayern, eyes a third Meistertitel in Folge, confident that his Sein Werkl runs national unaufhaltsam. He recalls Sebastian Prödls motto: “München ist wie ein Zahnarztbesuch. Muss jeder mal hin. Kann ziemlich wehtun. Kann aber auch glimpflich ausgehen.” Frank Hoermann and SVEN SIMO captured the moment for IMAGO, and Der image reflects the club’s ambition. Ein statement from Kompany summed up the outlook: “Wie wir arbeiten, ist entscheidend, und das ist klar.” Das Ziel bleibt klar: dominate the league.
Im transfer window, Ismael Saibari from PSV Eindhoven and Nathaniel Brown of Frankfurt each join the squad for rund etwa 50 Millionen Euro, with Brown having scored in the Supercup against Dortmund. ÖFB‑Legionär Konrad Laimer extended his contract to 2029 after long negotiations. Uncertainty remains over Jamal Musiala’s return after two absences on the Platz.
Frage: Which clubs also challenge for top spots? Antwort: Borussia Dortmund will seek to irritate Bayern, while RB Leipzig under neo‑Trainer Martin Demichelis, Bayer Leverkusen under neo‑Trainer Carles Martínez, Stuttgart and Eintracht Frankfurt under neo‑Trainer Adi Hütter vie for Champions‑League places. The Austrian contingent features 21 ÖFB‑Spieler across 13 clubs, a decline from 28 last season, and the SVs across the league watch closely.
More ball and fewer Bull tactics boost Austrian clubs in Bundesliga
Miron Muslić, one of the many ÖFB‑Legionäre, leads Schalke 04 back to the Bundesliga after three years, bringing Junior Adamu, Dejan Ljubičić and Maximilian Wöber. He stresses, “Wir müssen dieses Jahr zwei Gänge höher schalten, aber das wollen wir auch,” aiming to establish the club in the Oberhaus. The Ball will often find the net in front of an average crowd of 62.000, underscoring Schalke’s status as a Publikumsmagnet.
Frage: Who fights relegation? Antwort: Bookmakers flag fellow promoted sides Elversberg, relying on Torhüter Nicolas Kristof, and Paderborn as the most anxious. As Lothar Matthäus warned, “Wir dürfen jetzt nur nicht den Sand in den Kopf stecken.” Ist the battle already fierce? The lower half of the table will decide soon.
will stream the conference on Saturday at 15.30 Uhr and the Sunday fixtures, while Sky carries the Friday opener and all Saturday matches. The Eröffnungsspiel also appears on Puls 4/Joyn, with Sat1 and RTL showing selected games. Summaries arrive via Sportschau (ARD) and Sportstudio (ZDF) on Saturday evening.
Vincent Kompany gives Hiroki Ito little playing time at FC Bayern
The contrast between Bayern’s relentless pursuit of a third consecutive title and Schalke’s quest to cement its place in the Oberhaus highlights a season where established power and revived ambition will clash, promising a Fußball spectacle that will test every Star on the pitch.