Key dates in the 2019/20 season

bundesliga.com has compiled a list of the key encounters of the new 2019/20 season.

Download the full Bundesliga fixture list for 2019/20 right here!

Opening fixture

Bayern Munich vs. Hertha Berlin (Friday, 16th August 2019)

As is tradition in the Bundesliga, the defending champions will open the season at home. Niko Kovac’s side got off to a winning start against Hoffenheim in 2018/19, and have now won their last seven season-opening matches as title holders.

Matchday 1

Saturday 17 August (3.30pm CEST)

Borussia Dortmund vs. Augsburg
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Paderborn
Freiburg vs. Mainz
Wolfsburg vs. Cologne
Werder Bremen vs. Fortuna Düsseldorf

Saturday 17 August (6.30pm CEST)

Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Schalke

Sunday 18 August (3.30pm CEST)

Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Hoffenheim

Sunday 18 August (6pm CEST)

Union Berlin vs. RB Leipzig

Beyond the opening game, more mouth-watering fixtures await on the first Matchday of the new season. Runners-up last term, Borussia Dortmund will begin their title quest at home to Augsburg. Newly promoted Paderborn travel to Leverkusen, while Bundesliga 2 champions Cologne are in Wolfsburg and Bundesliga first-timers Union Berlin host RB Leipzig.

Watch: How Union were promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time!

Der Klassiker

MD11 (8-10 November): Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Dortmund
MD28 (3-6 April): Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich

We were blessed with two of the most memorable Klassiker fixtures in history during 2018/19. Dortmund’s dramatic 3-2 win over Bayern in the first meeting put Dortmund clear at the top of the table, while the reverse fixture saw Bayern re-take the lead in the title race after a thumping 5-0 win at the Allianz Arena.

The two fixtures will take place on the same matchdays as last season in 2019/20, but Bayern will play at home first, with the defending champions travelling to the Signal Iduna Park on Matchday 28.

Watch: Relive Dortmund's barnstorming win over Bayern

Revierderby

MD9 (25-27 October): Schalke vs. Borussia Dortmund
MD26 (13-16 March): Borussia Dortmund vs. Schalke

Much like the Klassiker, the Revierderby between Dortmund and Schalke delivered drama of the highest order. Jadon Sancho won the day on an emotional evening at the Veltins Arena, before the Royal Blues dealt a serious blow to BVB's title ambitions after coming from behind to win 4-2 at the Signal Iduna Park in late April.

This season’s fixtures will take place at the midway point of each season half, on Matchdays 9 and 26. Once again, Schalke are at home first.

Watch: Highlights of a costly Reviederby defeat for the Black-Yellows

Bayern vs. Leipzig

MD4 (4 September, 6.30pm CEST): RB Leipzig vs. Bayern Munich
MD21 (7-10 February): Bayern Munich vs. RB Leipzig

Bayern and Leipzig are fast building a fierce rivalry of their own.

Bayern travel to the Red Bull Arena as early as Matchday 4, the first weekend back after the international break, and before both teams play their opening group stage matches in the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League. Leipzig's pursuit of a first win on Munich soil resumes in February.

Watch: Bayern and Leipzig have already produced one of the Bundesliga's greatest ever games!

Dortmund vs. Leipzig

MD16 (17-18 December): Borussia Dortmund vs. RB Leipzig
MD33 (Saturday, 9th May 2020): RB Leipzig vs. Borussia Dortmund

While Bayern and Leipzig will meet early in the campaign, Dortmund don't face Julian Nagelsmann’s side until mid-December. Having played against each other on the opening weekend last season, this time round Dortmund host Leipzig on the penultimate weekend of the Hinrunde.

The Matchday 33 clash in Leipzig could well have major implications at the top of the table, a week before the 2019/20 campaign reaches a crescendo.

Rhine derby

MD4 (14 September, 3.30pm CEST): Cologne vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach
MD21 (7-10 February): Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Cologne

After winning the Bundesliga 2 title last season, Cologne are back in the Bundesliga and will once again meet their fiercest rivals, Borussia Mönchengladbach. These two fixtures will be played on the same weekend as Bayern's meetings with Leipzig, providing an added layer of excitement to Matchdays 4 and 21.

Berlin derby

MD10 (1-3 November): Union Berlin vs. Hertha Berlin
MD27 (20-22 March): Hertha Berlin vs. Union Berlin

Hertha and Union Berlin will meet for the first time in Bundesliga history in 2019/20. It is sure to be a huge occasion in Germany’s capital on the opening weekend of November, when east (Union) entertains west (Hertha). The Olympiastadion will play host to the reverse fixture on Matchday 27.

Final day of the season (Saturday, 16th May 2020)

Borussia Dortmund vs. Hoffenheim
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Mainz
Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Hertha Berlin
Wolfsburg vs. Bayern Munich
Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Paderborn
Werder Bremen vs. Cologne
Freiburg vs. Schalke
Augsburg vs. RB Leipzig
Union Berlin vs. Fortuna Düsseldorf

For the first time in almost a decade, the Bundesliga title race went down to the final day in 2018/19.

Bayern came out on top at home in the end, thrashing Eintracht Frankfurt 5-0. Should the same title drama be provided again in 2019/20, the record champions will need to get a result at the Volkswagen Arena against Wolfsburg.

Dortmund, meanwhile, will be at home to Hoffenheim, in a re-rerun of the fixture that last term saw the away side fight back from 3-0 down to earn a point in dramatic fashion at the Signal Iduna Park. Hold onto your hats!