The dates for the two relegations are already determined. But at Arminia Bielefeld, problems in combination with the DFB Cup final can occur. And the Westphalia Cup also collides with the final in Berlin.
The dates for the relegation games between 2nd and 3rd league and the DFB Cup final have so far been planned:
- May 23: First game relegation in the third in the table 3. League – Tables 16.2. Bundesliga
- May 24: DFB Cup final in Berlin
- May 27: Return game relegation table-16. 2. Bundesliga – third in the table 3rd league
In this sequence, however, there would be too little recovery between the games when a club takes part in relegation and cup final. And that could be Arminia Bielefeld.
Bielefeld defeated Bayer Leverkusen on April 1st and thus moved into the DFB Cup final. The Arminia is also in the middle of the promotion battle of the 3rd league and thus a candidate for participating in the relegation to the 2nd Bundesliga. Should Bielefeld play in the relegation and at the same time qualify for the cup final, the DFL has provided alternative dates:
- May 21 Would be possible as an appointment for the first leg in the relegation
- May 28th could be used for the second legs
So there would be enough recovery time before and after the final for the DFB Cup.
Disadvantage: European Cup final in the way
However, the alternative dates have a disadvantage: the Europa League final will take place in Bilbao on May 21, on May 28th the final of the Conference League is scheduled in Breslau.
Both end games will kick off at 9 p.m., the German relegation games are likely to take place beforehand when using the alternative dates.
Final of the Westphalia cups On the day of DFB Cup finales
However, relegation and cup final are not the only collisions. The final of the Westphalia Cup is also scheduled for May 24th. The East Westphalia are also qualified for this. The opponent will be determined in the duel SV Rödinghausen against Sportfreunde Lotte on April 16.
Curious: If the Arminia loses the DFB Cup final and will not be at least fourth in the 3rd league, they would only be the winner of the Westphalia Cup in the DFB Cup in the coming season.
How the home right is regulated in relegation
Basically, according to the DFL game regulations: “The club has home rights in the second leg, which had fewer game -free days before the first leg in accordance with the schedule of the past season.”
This usually means that the second division club against the Bundesliga club has home rights in the second leg, since his season ends on Sundays, but that of the Bundesliga club on Saturdays. This is what it looks like in the relegation of the second division team against the third division team: the season of the third division team usually ends on Saturdays.
The away goal rule in the relegation has meanwhile been abolished analogously to the regulation in the European Cup.
Relegation can organizational be challenging
The relegation has often provided organizational challenges since its reintroduction. In 2022 Hertha BSC played in the relegation, the Berlin Olympic Stadium had to be restored for the cup final after the first leg against Hamburger SV within two days.