As Storm Elli blankets northern and eastern Germany, the resumption of the Bundesliga this weekend is facing potential disruption. While Friday’s match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund is currently expected to proceed as scheduled, several othre fixtures-including Union Berlin vs. Mainz, St. Pauli against Leipzig, and Bremen’s home game against Hoffenheim-are under observation due to heavy snowfall. Clubs and the DFL are taking preemptive measures, from pitch heating and snow removal efforts to requesting fan assistance, to ensure the safety of players and spectators and the viability of play.
Storm Elli is gripping Hamburg, and could potentially impact Bundesliga action this weekend. Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund are set to kick off the league’s resumption on Friday evening at 8:30 PM local time (live ticker on bild.de), marking the start of the 16th matchday.
As of now, the match is expected to proceed as scheduled. “According to assessments by the responsible authorities, there is currently no reason to believe that the game on Friday will not take place as planned,” a statement from Eintracht Frankfurt confirmed. The club has, however, deployed additional staff through the stadium operator as a precaution.
Norden and Osten von Schneefall betroffen
Further north and east, the situation is less certain. The DFL is in communication with clubs potentially affected by heavy snowfall, according to reports.
Three matches are scheduled for Saturday afternoon in areas bracing for significant snow: Union Berlin versus Mainz, St. Pauli against Leipzig, and Bremen hosting Hoffenheim.
The match at Millerntor is currently the most at risk!
Snow is falling in Hamburg, and schools have been closed for Friday.
St. Pauli is preparing for all possibilities and will respond accordingly. Ahead of last Sunday’s friendly against Werder Bremen, 50 volunteers were deployed to clear the pitch. A similar effort could be organized quickly for Saturday’s league game. While the club was able to train on the grounds recently, snow removal was still necessary as the pitch heating system alone wasn’t sufficient.
HSV postponed training by an hour on Wednesday and even later on Thursday. The club is also using bright orange Bundesliga balls, which are easier to see in the snowy conditions.
HSV-Neuzugang Damion Downs (21) im Training mit den orangefarbenen Bundesliga-Bällen
In Bremen, the situation appears more manageable. Werder Bremen does not currently anticipate any issues with their match against Hoffenheim and has contracted a company to de-ice the roads around the stadium. The club is also encouraging fans to use public transportation.
Union bittet Anhänger um Hilfe
Union Berlin has issued an internal call to its fan clubs, requesting supporters bring snow shovels to the stadium. Club employees are also being asked to assist with snow removal over the weekend, as snowfall is forecast for Berlin on Friday.
Stadium staff have been using loaders and volunteers with shovels and picks since Thursday to clear the pitch.
Schon am Donnerstag packten die ersten Fans mit an, schoben und fegten den Schnee weg
Wann kann ein Spiel abgesagt werden?
A match was last postponed due to weather conditions in early 2024 (Mainz vs. Union Berlin) due to ice formation in the standing area, leading to stadium closure and rescheduling.
A game can be called off under two circumstances:
Option 1: If the pitch heating system cannot completely clear the field of snow, the referee will make a decision on playability during a pitch inspection. If deemed unplayable, the DFL will reschedule the match.
Option 2: Even if play is theoretically possible, a significant risk to spectators (e.g., snow falling from the stadium roof) or travel (e.g., black ice) could lead local authorities, in consultation with the club, to cancel the game.
Currently, Leverkusen, Gladbach, and Munich anticipate their matches will proceed as planned. Bayern Munich’s players trained on the BayArena pitches on Thursday.
Hier geht es zu Hey_, der Künstlichen Intelligenz von BILD
Cologne visits Heidenheim on Saturday at 3:30 PM local time. On inquiry, Heidenheim’s Sporting Director Thomas Kessler stated, “The most important thing is that the roads to the stadiums are passable. If you hear the scenarios, such as black ice, and people should stay home because their lives are in danger, then, I think, no risk will be taken if such a situation prevails.”
Die Wege rund um das Stadion der Allianz Arena sind leicht zugeschneit
