The times when the Bundesliga schedule with 612 games on 34 matchdays was created by hand using an “English key” are long gone. Each club was assigned a number between 1 and 18 and fitted into a scheme. This automatically resulted in encounters. A software specially developed for the creation of fixtures makes many things easier – but the DFL planners are not superfluous.
Holidays, risk games and much more
It just doesn’t work according to scheme F. There are many interests, requirements and the unforeseeable that must be taken into account. These include problems with fans (e.g. in high-risk games), requirements from security bodies, requests from municipalities and cities, stadium operators or media partners of the DFL. In addition, neighboring clubs such as Hertha BSC and 1. FC Union Berlin or FC Schalke and Borussia Dortmund are to be staggered to their home games. Other parallel major events and public holidays must also be included.
The Bundesliga schedules must also be coordinated with the general schedule of the European football union Uefa and the world association Fifa. The Bundesliga clubs are represented in the Champions League, Europa League and the Conference League, whose games are played on weekdays.
A club that plays in the Europa League on Thursday should not play again directly on Saturday or on Sunday if the Champions League is scheduled for next Tuesday.
In addition, there are the dates of the DFB Cup. The 1st round will be played between July 29th and August 1st next season. That weekend, on Saturday (July 30), the Supercup between German champions Bayern Munich and DFB Cup winners RB Leipzig will also take place.
Your two games in the first round of the DFB Cup are scheduled for August 30th and 31st. The cup final will take place on June 3, 2023 in Berlin.