Into the new football season with Opel: Spectacular newcomers, pure passion and a manager on the way to becoming a legend

• Borussia Dortmund: the contender attacks again with new players
• 1. FSV Mainz 05: now an institution in the Bundesliga
• Jürgen Klopp: after Champions League triumph, sights now set on Premier League title

Rüsselsheim. The dream of the title, the fight for a spot among the best and the pursuit of the crown in en football: for the teams and coaches supported by Opel, the summer break now ends and the new season begins with completely different aspirations. Do they slowly approach the 2019/20 season and see what happens? Borussia Dortmund (BVB) don't have time for a leisurely start, because they are about to start their campaign with a highlight. This Saturday, August 3, the first title of the season will already be up for grabs when the long-time Opel partner welcomes FC Bayern München for the DFL Supercup. One day later, the official season opens for family and friends of BVB around Signal Iduna Park.

The 2019/20 Bundesliga season starts two weeks later. Borussia Dortmund kick off the new season on August 17 with a home match against FC Augsburg at 3:30 p.m., while at the same time Mainz 05 – also an Opel team – travel to SC Freiburg. The dress rehearsals for both teams take place one week earlier in the first round of the German Cup. And they are already facing stiff opposition: Borussia will take on ambitious third-league team KFC Uerdingen 05 in Düsseldorf (August 9, 8:45 p.m., live on Sport 1) and Mainz 05 travel to the legendary Betzenberg in Kaiserslautern one day later.

Red-hot candidate for title: Experts bet on Borussia

Spectacular newcomers and a mature team: after finishing second last season, Borussia Dortmund is considered a serious candidate for the title by numerous experts. BVB coach Lucien Favre does not see his team as the favourites, but the anticipation and motivation of the team around captain Marco Reus are tangible. As one of the leaders in the Borussia squad, Reus – who was named "Player of the Year 2019" just a few days ago – wants to crown the 2019/20 season with at least one title.

Opel and Borussia Dortmund also again used the summer break for joint projects: the last preliminary round tournaments of the BVB Family Cup were played. The big final tournament will take place on September 28 as part of the BVB home match against SV Werder Bremen.

In addition, a high-calibre BVB delegation visited Rüsselsheim. The group included Mats Hummels and Mario Götze as well as BVB boss Hans-Joachim Watzke, Carsten Cramer (Marketing and Sales Director) and Sebastian Kehl (former captain and current head of the professional players department). In the spotlight: the new Opel Corsa as the most prominent newcomer in the Opel portfolio. At their training camp, half of the Borussia squad and BVB legend Norbert Dickel were in action when the new episodes of the series "BVB Quiztaxi" with the new Opel Zafira Life were filmed – a format which has long since gained cult status among BVB fans.

Mainz 05: Again challenge the best with passion and fighting spirit

Coach Sandro Schwarz leads 1. FSV Mainz 05 into the club’s eleventh consecutive Bundesliga season. The fact that the Mainz team has thrilled with top-class football over such a long period of time is not a matter of course, because their budget is still one of the smallest in the league. Passion and fighting spirit are called for. Just like last Saturday, when the official season opening for the fans took place in the OPEL ARENA with the OPEL CUP 2019. FC Sevilla and FC Everton were guests of the "Blitz Tournament" in round-robin format in front of about 8,000 spectators. The winner was FC Sevilla ahead of the hosts from Mainz.

After 30 years: Klopp wants to bring the Premier League title to Anfield Road

Champions League winner and coach of the year – what more is possible? Despite these achievements, Jürgen Klopp is anything but weary of office. On the contrary. Following the Champions League title and second place at national level, the Opel brand ambassador has a clear goal for the coming season with Liverpool FC: to bring the Premier League title back to Anfield. Liverpool last achieved this exactly 30 years ago. There could be a reunion in the Champions League with his former club Borussia Dortmund – Klopp still enjoys close ties to them, as he does to Mainz.

Elsewhere, the well-liked manager is also closely associated with Opel's successful comeback as a motivated and committed brand ambassador. Since 2012, he has played a leading role in many TV and radio commercials and has shaped Opel's new brand image and positive public perception with his credible, charismatic manner. Opel and Jürgen Klopp – a winning formula!

Contact

Axel Seegers
Manager Marken- und Motorsport-Kommunikation
Telefon: +49 6142/7-75 496
Mobil: +49 151/16 41 95 70
axel.seegers@opel.com