BBC Alba has announced that it is to broadcast live football games from the newly resumed German women’s Bundesliga.
In the first live sport broadcast on free-to-air UK television since the coronavirus lockdown, viewers will be able to tune in to clashes between high profile clubs such as Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen.
The German football season has restarted in both the men’s and women’s game, with sporting authorities looking to play out the 2019-2020 season behind closed doors and with maximum effort to safeguard players and officials.
BBC Alba is already home to coverage of Scottish women’s football, and there are several Scots who have plyed their trade in the German leagues.
Lisa Evans, now at Arsenal, played for both Turbine Potsdam and FC Bayern Munich after Glasgow City FC. Scottish international Sophie Howard, now at Reading, also played for 1899 Hoffenheim.
Covid-19 disrupted the channel’s planned coverage of Wolfsburg’s ties against Glasgow City in their UEFA Women’s Champions League fixtures earlier in the year.
MG ALBA’s Director of Multiplatform Content and BBC ALBA’s executive on sport, Iseabail Mactaggart, said: “We’re delighted to bring coverage of one of the strongest women’s leagues in Europe to BBC ALBA audiences – in doing so, we not only showcase excellence in women’s sport, we bring Gaelic to audiences that would otherwise not experience it as a lively, living language.
“We’re huge supporters of the growth of Scottish women’s football and in showcasing the FlyerAlarm Frauen-Bundesliga we’re providing high quality, live sports coverage at a time we know audiences need it, and demonstrating what is possible in women’s football.”
All of the matches scheduled feature one of the top 3 teams in Frauen Bundesliga – Wolfsburg, Bayern, and Hoffenheim.
All three clubs are still challenging the title and Champions League qualification.
The opening game is between number two Bayern and number three Hoffenheim, separated by just one point.
The schedule
- Saturday 30 May – FC Bayern München v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, 1200 KO
- Friday 5 June – TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v Bayer 04 Leverkusen, 1815 KO
- Sat 13 June – SGS Essen v VfL Wolfsburg 1200, KO
- Sun 14 June – FC Bayern München v FF USV Jena 1300, KO
- Wed 17 June – VfL Wolfsburg v SC Freiburg 1300, KO
Further games may be added
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