How the Bundesliga fixture list is made
Friday sees the release of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 fixture lists for the 2022/23 season, but just how does the entire process come together to produce the games that will comprise the upcoming campaign? bundesliga.com investigates ...
With 34 Matchdays across two divisions comprising 612 games across the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2, there is plenty to take into consideration when drawing up the definitive list of matches for each season. Placed together within a standardised framework, the fixture lists abide by the official calendar that contains FIFA and UEFA fixtures along with Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 games and the dates of the DFB Pokal.
Every club will compete in 17 home games and 17 away during the domestic season, competing against each club in the division twice. The planning process in producing the sequence of matches - which starts each spring - is a complex one and looks at many different factors from the wishes and requests of local authorities to those of the clubs and media partners, among others.
Factors such as avoiding the clash of neighbouring clubs' fixtures or if a city is to host a major international event, for example, are among the things taken into consideration when the list is drawn up. All such requirements are entered into a computer programme, the software of which is developed by the DFL. Hundreds of options are considered and rejected during this process.
At the end of it all, a definitive fixture list for the coming season is produced. The timings for each match are determined during the campaign when consideration to international club competitions is given so as to give those clubs competing enough time to recuperate.
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The DFL is also in constant dialogue with security officials to make sure that matches proceed as smoothly as possible for all concerned.
During the entire process, the interests of clubs, stadium operators and fans are also taken into account as far as possible. You will be able to see the outcome of this entire process when the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 fixture lists are revealed on Friday.
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