The German league confirmed yesterday that the 2020-21 Bundesliga season will start on September 18 with the traditional January winter break shrunk to a fortnight amid a string of changes forced by the coronavirus pandemic.
Having originally been scheduled to begin on August 21, the new season in Germany’s top tier now starts four weeks later and should finish on May 22, three weeks before the European Championships is due to start. The German Cup final, which traditionally ends the season in Germany, is planned for Thursday, May 13 at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, a week before the league season finishes.
The Bundesliga winter break has also been halved, from four weeks last season, to just a fortnight with the last round of league matches in 2020 played on the weekend of December 19-20 and the restart on January 2-3. 
German fans will be able to watch football right up until Christmas with the second round of cup games due to be held in mid-week on December 22 and 23.


German fans may return 
to stadiums this autumn
Meanwhile, German fans may be able to return to stadiums to cheer on their heroes in national team and Bundesliga matches soon, the German Football Association (DFB) and the German football league (DFL) said.  
The two bodies are working with health authorities on ways to reduce the risk of infection from Covid-19 at matches as well as on the way to and from the stadium. DFB Secretary General Friedrich Curtius said in a statement that he expects that the association will develop a concept that will allow the German national team to play in front of spectators at home games this autumn.
Most sporting events were shut down earlier this year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. 
While some leagues have resumed, matches have been played behind closed doors and in eerie silence. The Dutch football association (KNVB) said that domestic football in the Netherlands would resume in September with 15-35% of the stadium available for spectators but with no away supporters allowed.
To allow fans back to German Bundesliga matches as well, DFL said it 
was working with the federal health ministry to draw up guidelines for the local clubs.