When FC Bayern Munich starts a championship celebration for the tenth time in a row on Matchday 33, something new happens. For decades, all games have been kicked off at the same time on the last two matchdays of a season – on Saturdays at 3.30 p.m. It’s different this season. “In both leagues, matchday 33 will in future be played as a regular matchday with staggered kick-off times.”, the DFL announced in March 2020 when it tendered the media rights for the 2021/22 to 2024/25 seasons. The match day is now one like the 32 others before.
That’s why Bayern will receive the championship trophy, which will be presented by DFL boss Donata Hopfen, on a Sunday this season when VfB Stuttgart is visiting. Kick-off is at 5:30 p.m. So the Bundesliga breaks with an old tradition.
DFL: “Practice is also implemented elsewhere in Europe”
The fact that the 33rd matchday was changed in this way has to do with the TV marketing. More broadcast dates are possible, there is more money for the clubs. “The decision in favor of this practice, which is also implemented in other top European leagues or in the group stages of the World Cup, was made in the course of an overall assessment before the last tender for the German-language media rights.”said the DFL at the request of the sports show.
In Europe’s leading leagues, only the French league schedules all of its games simultaneously on the penultimate matchday. Even the last day of the game is far from being set at the same time everywhere, in Italy and Spain the last games are sometimes kicked off at different times. The Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga are not going down a new path. And yet something is lost.