Werkself kick off at Mönchengladbach

Bayer 04 start the 40th season in the Bundesliga with an away game at Borussia Mönchengladbach. The fixture list was published at midday  by the German Football League (DFL). The Werkself have eight home games in the first half of the season including the opener on matchday two against VfL Wolfsburg. That is followed by  an away game at record champions Bayern Munich. The final game of the campaign for Bayer 04 is away to Hertha Berlin at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on 18 May 2019. The Werkself had the same opponents on matchdays 1 and 34 in the 2016/17 season.

Völler: "AttraCtive opener"

"It's an attractive start to the season away to a strong opponent, particularly as it feels like a derby. I'm looking forward to it," said Rudi Völler, future  sporting managing director at Bayer 04, after the fixture list was released. Head coach Heiko Herrlich assesses the first outing of the campaign as follows: "Gladbach away is definitely a challenge. I think it's a good fixture and a cracker to start with." The Werkself played twice at Mönchengladbach last term winning both games against Borussia. First came a 5-1 win in the Bundesliga after being a goal down at half-time (photo: Julian Brandt celebrates scoring), and then a 1-0 win in the DFB Cup.

Ticket packages go on sale to Club members on 10 July at 10.00 CET and on general sale from 17 July at 10.00. This covers three games in a package  – with one each from categories A, B and C. Information on match tickets will be released shortly at bayer04.de.

Bundesliga season number 56 opens on Friday 24 August with the match between reigning champions Bayern Munich and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. The later start to the season, due to this summer's World Cup, means the first half of the season ends on 23 December. Timings for the Bundesliga fixtures will be announced by the DFL in calendar week 28 to the middle of July.

BAYER 04 fixtures:

Matchday 1, 24-26.8. (Return game: 18 -21.1.19)
Borussia Mönchengladbach v Bayer 04
Matchday 2, 31.8.-2.9. (Return game: 25-28.1.19)
Bayer 04 v VfL Wolfsburg
Matchday 3, 14-16.9. (Return game: 1-4.2.19)
FC Bayern Munich v Bayer 04

Matchday 4, 21-23.9. (Return game: 8-11.2.19)
Bayer 04 v FSV Mainz 05
Matchday 5, 25-26.9. (Return game: 15-22.2.19)
Fortuna Düsseldorf v Bayer 04
Matchday 6, 28-30.9. (Return game: 22-25.2.19)
Bayer 04 v Borussia Dortmund
Matchday 7, 5-7.10. (Return game: 1-4.3.19)
SC Freiburg v Bayer 04
Matchday 8, 19-21.10. (Return game: 8-11.3.19)
Bayer 04 v Hannover 96
Matchday 9, 26-28.10. (Return game: 15-17.3.19)
Werder Bremen v Bayer 04
Matchday 10, 2-4.11. (Return game: 29.3.-1.4.19)
Bayer 04 v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
Matchday 11, 9-11.11. (Return game: 5-8.4.19)
RB Leipzig v Bayer 04
Matchday 12, 23.11.-25.11. (Return game: 12-15.4.19)
Bayer 04 – VfB Stuttgart
Matchday 13, 30.11.-3.12. (Return game: 20-22.4.19)
FC Nürnberg v Bayer 04

Matchday 14, 7-9.12. (Return game: 26-29.4.19)
Bayer 04 v FC Augsburg
Matchday 15, 14-16.12. (Return game: 3-6.5.19)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Bayer 04
Matchday 16, 18-19.12. (Return game: 11.5.19)
FC Schalke 04 v Bayer 04
Matchday 17, 21-23.12. (Return game: 18.5.19)
Bayer 04 v Hertha BSC