Union Berlin vs. Mainz (Sunday, 2.30pm)
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Union Berlin and Mainz 05 will both begin their 2023-24 Bundesliga campaigns when they meet at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei on Sunday.
The hosts qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history by finishing fourth last season, while Mainz ended up in ninth position.
We say: Union Berlin 2-1 Mainz 05
Having made some impressive signings during the summer transfer window, in contrast to Mainz who may start with no debutants, Union Berlin will sense an excellent opportunity to build momentum from the outset on Sunday.
Mainz have established themselves as a solid mid-table side under Svensson, but they may be lacking a little quality and belief to gain a result at a potentially rocking Stadion An der Alten Forsterei.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Frankfurt vs. SV Darmstadt 98 (Sunday, 4.30pm)
© Reuters
Eintracht Frankfurt will be hoping to get their Bundesliga season up and running with a victory when they host SV Darmstadt 98 on Sunday.
The visitors are returning to Germany's top flight for the first time since being relegated in 2017, having finished as runners-up in the second tier last time out.
We say: Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 SV Darmstadt 98
It is incredibly tough to envisage the visitors gaining anything here, particularly with their confidence likely to be dented by their shock 3-0 defeat to fourth division opponents in the DFB-Pokal first round.
Frankfurt displayed their attacking fluency with a 7-0 demolition against a side at the same level as Darmstadt's opponents, and we expect them to begin the season with a comfortable victory.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Matt Law
