To be honest, I find it a disgrace.
Assuming VfB reaches the Champions League play-offs, they will have 6 (in words, six!) English weeks in a row at the start of 2025. Of course the same applies to Leverkusen. This can (and I think will) cost points that could be worth millions.
And exactly these two teams will then be placed in the first block. I would like to have a reason for that.
Wolfsburg, Bremen and Bielefeld, completely without international pressure, can then play three weeks later. Whoever wants to understand that. Leipzig no longer has a chance of making the play-offs, so there is less pressure.
Another comment on the scheduling, because the reasoning is now clear:
According to the general calendar and TV contracts, the four games must be played on four days (04/02, 05/02, 25/02, 26/02).
According to the police, Lev-Cologne is not allowed on February 25th or 26th. are played because of carnival. On Tue, February 4th Leverkusen can’t play either because they play on Sunday the weekend before (against Hoffenheim). So the game has to be played on February 5th. be placed.
On Tue, February 25th Both Stuttgart and Leipzig cannot play because they play on Sunday the weekend before (against Heidenheim and Frankfurt respectively). So Bielefeld-Bremen has to play on that day.
On Tue, February 4th Wolfsburg cannot play because they play on Sundays the weekend before (against Frankfurt). So Sturrgart-Augsburg has to play that day.
Leipzig-Wolfsburg will then get the date that is still available and will play on February 26th.
So this was once again a case in which the TV contracts and the increasingly tight schedule ensure that it is not possible to respond to the interests of the clubs. In the end there was exactly one option to schedule the games and that had to be taken.