Bundesliga Daily Report - 2026-08-27

The Bundesliga and EA SPORTS FC have extended their licensing partnership, continuing an agreement that began in 1998. The renewal covers the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 in EA SPORTS FC 27 and FC Mobile, including their clubs, players and stadiums. The announcement was made at Gamescom in Cologne on Thursday, with former Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger attending as guest of honour. EA retains exclusive match-simulation rights for Germany’s top two divisions, ensuring the league remains fully represented in one of football’s most widely used gaming platforms.

The agreement also expands the relationship beyond the traditional game licence. The Bundesliga and EA plan to collaborate on content, intellectual property, emerging technology and innovation, including the use of Tracab’s football tracking and real-time data capabilities. Supporter engagement through the EA Sports App is another part of the renewal. With EA Sports FC 26 reported to have been Europe’s best-selling video game in 2025, the deal gives the Bundesliga a significant digital route to younger and international audiences while preserving the authenticity of its matchday presentation.

Jamal Musiala returned to Bayern Munich’s team training on Thursday but will miss Friday’s Bundesliga opener against Stuttgart, coach Vincent Kompany confirmed. The 23-year-old midfielder had collapsed during consecutive pre-season matches against RB Leipzig on 15 August and Heidenheim three days later. Musiala subsequently said he had been diagnosed with absence seizures caused by a neurological dysfunction, describing the condition as temporary and treatable. Kompany said the player was responding well to an adjustment in his medication and was taking part fully in training as he worked towards a competitive return.

Kompany said Bayern would make the decision on Musiala’s comeback jointly with medical experts and would not rush him into action. The coach remained confident that the Germany international would return to normal competitive football, although the opening fixture comes too soon. His absence removes one of Bayern’s most prominent attacking midfield options for the champions’ first league match, placing greater emphasis on the rest of Kompany’s forward group as Bayern begin their title defence at home.

The 2026-27 Bundesliga season starts on Friday, when defending champions Bayern Munich host Stuttgart. Bayern completed a league and DFB-Pokal double last season, collecting 89 points and scoring a record 122 league goals before beating Borussia Dortmund in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup. Stuttgart finished strongly enough last season to qualify for the Champions League and will provide the opening test at the Allianz Arena. Borussia Dortmund host Hamburg in another prominent first-round fixture, while newcomers Elversberg welcome Bayer Leverkusen.

Schalke have also returned to the top flight after three seasons in Bundesliga 2, while Elversberg are appearing in the Bundesliga for the first time. Paderborn completed the 18-team line-up by defeating Wolfsburg in the promotion play-off after finishing third in the second tier. The opening schedule gives Bayern home advantage immediately, but the broader interest lies in whether Dortmund and the promoted clubs can challenge the established order. The first Klassiker of the campaign is scheduled for late October.

Niko Kovac said Borussia Dortmund needed to start the Bundesliga strongly when Hamburg visit Signal Iduna Park on Saturday. Dortmund’s final pre-season fixtures included a 3-2 win over Arsenal and a 2-2 draw with Roma, followed by a 2-1 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup. Kovac said the squad had quality and talent but was still finding its footing after several players, including Gregor Kobel, Julian Ryerson, Ramy Bensebaini and Marcel Sabitzer, returned late from their World Cup break. He described three points against Hamburg as essential.

Dortmund will still be without long-term absentees Nico Schlotterbeck and Emre Can, who were recovering from ankle and knee problems respectively. Kovac said his approach had been successful since taking charge, explaining that he changed the team from a back four to a back five after deciding the original structure was not working. He guided Dortmund from mid-table to Champions League qualification in his first season and then to second place last term. The opening fixture will show whether that progress can continue despite the incomplete preparation.

Freiburg beat Motherwell 4-1 on Thursday to end the Scottish club’s Conference League play-off run. Derry Scherhant, Igor Matanovic, Cyriaque Irie and Keisuke Goto scored for the Bundesliga side, while Emmanuel Longelo briefly put Motherwell level. Freiburg’s victory underlined the gap between the clubs, with the German team having reached the Europa League final only a few months earlier and reportedly spending more than £30 million during the summer. The result delivered a decisive home performance in a tie Motherwell had entered as clear underdogs.

Motherwell’s task became harder after Jake Girdwood-Reich was sent off in the second leg, following Martin Moormann’s dismissal in the first match. Freiburg capitalised on the numerical advantage and controlled the contest after the equaliser. For the German club, the result provided competitive momentum before the Bundesliga campaign, while Motherwell’s elimination ended an unexpectedly strong European journey. Freiburg’s mixture of recent continental experience and summer investment made them too powerful once the visitors’ discipline broke down.

Eintracht Frankfurt coach Adi Hütter expected Jonny Burkardt to be available for Saturday’s Bundesliga opener against Union Berlin after the forward returned to team training on Thursday. Burkardt had been taken off during the club’s previous match against St. Tönis, but completed the session and was expected to be considered for the squad. Hugo Larsson and Ritsu Doan were ruled out as a precaution after picking up minor muscle problems. Noel Aseko was also competing for a place in the matchday group after making progress in training.

Hütter said Frankfurt had spent six or seven weeks working together and were still improving in all areas. The coach has changed the team’s basic formation from 4-3-3 to 4-2-2-2, meaning the opening away match at Union will test how quickly the players have adapted to the new structure. Burkardt’s potential availability offers Frankfurt an attacking boost, while the absences of Larsson and Doan reduce their options. The fixture should provide an early indication of whether the tactical switch can produce a settled start.