RB Leipzig kicks off the new Bundesliga season on Saturday with a home match against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Martin Demichelis's team hosts Borussia at 3:30 PM at the Red Bull Arena.
The Red Bulls enter the match with ambition. They finished the previous season in fourth place with 56 points from 29 games. Their record was 17 wins, five draws, and seven losses. A goal difference of +20 (56 scored, 36 conceded) and a current form of five wins from their last five league games provide reason for optimism. However, key players like Assan Ouédraogo, Christoph Baumgartner, and goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland are sidelined for the season opener, as shown on the current injuries page.
Who is broadcasting the match live on free TV?
Fans can watch the encounter live and free on television. RTL will broadcast the match starting with pre-match coverage at 3:00 PM. This is the first individual Sky-exclusive match the channel has brought to free TV since its parent company, the RTL Group, took over the pay-TV provider in early June. Up to ten Bundesliga matches per season could be shown free-to-air.
Presenter Florian König will host the program. Former pro Patrick Helmes will serve as the expert analyst. Commentary will be provided by Kai Dittmann, with Katharina Kleinfeldt reporting from Leipzig. The broadcast is a joint production by RTL and Sky Sport. Sky will also show the match as an individual game. For RB Leipzig, it's the first competitive match in front of their home crowd this season.
What does the duel mean for the new managers?
The match marks a special debut on the Leipzig bench. For Martin Demichelis, it is his very first Bundesliga match as head coach. The Argentine and former Bayern Munich professional succeeded Ole Werner, who was dismissed in the summer. On the other side stands Eugen Polanski, who is beginning his first full season as Gladbach boss. Polanski took over from Gerardo Seoane back in September 2025.
Both teams started the season with a cup victory. Leipzig won the first round of the DFB-Pokal 6-0 against Eintracht Trier. Gladbach prevailed 5-0 against TSV Schott Mainz. The historical record clearly favors Leipzig. In 20 previous Bundesliga meetings, RB Leipzig has won eleven times, with five draws and only four wins for Borussia. Gladbach has gone nine attempts without a Bundesliga win in Leipzig and is winless in its last eleven away league games.
What role does Rocco Reitz play?
The match gains an extra edge due to Rocco Reitz. The midfielder transferred from Borussia Mönchengladbach to RB Leipzig this summer. Reitz joined Gladbach at the age of eight and progressed through all of the club's youth teams. Last season, he even captained the Foals. His move to a direct league rival adds extra spice to the season opener. His inside knowledge of Gladbach's workings could be an advantage for Demichelis.
What's next for RB Leipzig after the match?
After the season opener against Gladbach, another away game awaits the Saxons. On September 5, 2026, they travel to face 15th-placed Werder Bremen. The full schedule for the new season can be found on our fixtures page. Martin Demichelis's team, which finished just 20 points behind champions Bayern Munich last season, aims to compete for the top spots again. The coming weeks will show if the squad, despite current absences, has the necessary depth to pursue these goals. The upcoming matches will provide the first answers.
