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Bundesliga Opens Friday With Bayern vs. Leipzig Free on Sat.1

A new rights cycle with fresh officiating rules reshapes viewing access and match management.

Overview

  • FC Bayern host RB Leipzig on Friday, 22 August at 20:30 CET in Munich, with the opener live on Sat.1 and streaming free via ran.de/Joyn; Sky and WOW also carry the match.
  • Germany’s 2025/26 rights cycle moves the Friday 20:30 Bundesliga slot to Sky, shifts the Saturday 15:30 conference to DAZN, and gives RTL a free‑to‑air 2. Bundesliga game on Saturday at 20:30.
  • The DFL/DFB introduce in‑stadium VAR announcements, semi‑automated offside across the top two tiers, and stricter stoppage‑time accounting expected to extend added time.
  • The DFB‑Pokal first round concluded with notable results including Arminia Bielefeld’s 1:0 over Werder Bremen and Borussia Dortmund’s 1:0 at Rot‑Weiss Essen, with Bayern and Stuttgart to play on 26/27 August.
  • Sky reported strong early‑season audiences across the Pokal and Supercup weekend, while the women’s DFB‑Pokal draw set Borussia Dortmund vs. defending champion Bayern in the first main round.