The DFL has published the game plans for the coming Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga seasons. Union Berlin has to compete directly with Frankfurt, Leverkusen and Bayern, while Hertha BSC competes away at the start of the season.
1. FC Union Berlin, under new coach Mauro Lustrinelli, has to play against Frankfurt, Leverkusen, Schalke and Bayern Munich in the first four match days. A start that shows no mercy and immediately tests the team.
The first three games take place within just 14 days, including the derby against Schalke on matchday 2. The Bundesliga starts on August 16th, Union will meet Frankfurt on August 18th. The concentration on the top opponents is no coincidence: With this plan, the DFL is deliberately setting up early duels against title contenders in order to underline the quality of the league from the start of the season.
Hertha BSC, on the other hand, does not start the season in the stadium at the Alte Försterei, but on the street. The first away games are coming up, including high-profile duels in November against teams like Hamburg and Düsseldorf. Hertha has to get used to unfamiliar conditions early on - a test for the squad and the team's mental strength.
The first home games will follow later, when the season is already in full swing. This fixture list aims to test the team's adaptability, especially as Hertha needs to rebuild in the second division after being relegated from the Bundesliga. The early strain on Union Berlin is not a coincidence, but part of a conscious strategy by the DFL.
The league wants to raise the bar from the start of the season with these top duels and at the same time hold new teams like Union Berlin directly accountable. For a promoted team, such a start is a double-edged sword: On the one hand, the team gains valuable experience against established top teams, but on the other hand, if they fail, they risk falling behind in the table early on. The first three games within 14 days increase the pressure even further - a physical and psychological challenge that few teams in Europe have to overcome so early in the season.
At Hertha BSC, the focus is on away strength, a skill that often decides whether they are promoted or stay in the 2nd Bundesliga. The November games against Hamburg and Düsseldorf are particularly explosive: both opponents played for promotion in the previous season and have experienced squads. The stress of travel and the unpredictable conditions in away stadiums - from wet pitches to loud blocks of fans - will put Fredi Bobic's squad through its paces.
A strong start in these games could make the difference between promotion battle and midfield. As expected, the reactions to the game plan are varied. At Union Berlin, the early pressure is seen as an opportunity to compete directly against the best teams and gain experience.
" At Hertha BSC the focus is on the away games in order to collect points from the start and find the rhythm. " What's next? The teams now have clarity about the first games and can finalize their preparation.
Union Berlin has to prepare for the top opponents in the last few weeks before the start of the season, while Hertha BSC uses the away games as their first big test. The coming weeks will show how the Berlin clubs deal with the challenges - and whether the schedule actually shapes their season. The first matchdays will be crucial not only in terms of sport but also psychologically, especially for Hertha in the second division, where the pressure for promotion is enormous.
The game plan also reflects the strategic direction of the DFL: The league wants to increase its attractiveness with early top duels and at the same time make the new teams like Union Berlin directly responsible. For Hertha BSC, the program means a clear focus on away strength - a skill that often determines promotion or stay in the second division. The coming weeks will show whether the Berlin clubs can use this plan to position themselves early.
The media has already described the fixture list as a “trial by fire” for both clubs. Experts like sports journalist Uli Köhler analyzed: "With this start, Union Berlin has no time to settle in slowly. The team has to deliver immediately, otherwise there is a risk of a bad start to the season. Read at Tagesspiegel Sport
The publication of the game plans marks the tactical start of the new season. For the Berlin clubs, the early program shows the course: Union Berlin must immediately assert itself against top teams in the Bundesliga, while Hertha BSC sets the course for promotion or consolidation with away duels in November. The first games will immediately define the expectations and pressure on the teams. At the same time, the plan underlines the strategic orientation of the DFL, which wants to increase the attractiveness of the league with early top duels - and in doing so also makes the new teams like Union Berlin directly responsible. The early pressure forces the clubs to set priorities: quick success against top teams or risk management in preparation so as not to overload the team.
Tagesspiegel Sporttagesspiegel.de2 Jul, 9:52de
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