The final decisions in the German professional soccer leagues will not be made until the beginning of June. Dates, possible participants, balance sheet and transfer – the answers to the most important questions about relegation.
When will they find relegation games instead of?
On June 1, 2023 at 8:15 p.m. there will be a first leg between the 16th in the Bundesliga and the third in the 2nd division, the Bundesliga team has home rights first. On June 5th (8:15 p.m.) the stadium of the current second division team will decide who will play in the top flight next season.
In the duel for the last open place in the 2nd league, the third-placed team from the 3rd league receives the 16th in the 2nd league in the relegation first leg on June 2nd. The return leg for the supposed favorites will then take place on June 6th.
Which teams could play in the relegation to the Bundesliga?
SV Darmstadt 98 has been promoted and 1. FC Heidenheim only needs a win in their last game at SSV Jahn Regensburg to also play in the Bundesliga next season. Only Hamburger SV can intercept the Heidenheimers with a slip of their own with a win at SV Sandhausen. HSV can no longer be displaced from third place.
In the Bundesliga, Werder Bremen and TSG Hoffenheim saved themselves on matchday 33. FC Augsburg, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Bochum and Schalke 04 are still eligible. One of these clubs is relegated directly, one plays in the relegation.
Which teams could play in the relegation to the 2nd Bundesliga?
In the relegation battle of the 2nd league, decisions were also made on the penultimate day: SV Sandhausen was relegated, and Jahn Regensburg will do the same. On the last day of the game, three clubs play to avoid ending up in the relegation zone. There is currently Arminia Bielefeld (34 points), in front of them are 1. FC Nuremberg (36) and Eintracht Braunschweig (36).
In the 3rd league, SV Elversberg has been promoted, second place SC Freiburg is not allowed to be promoted as a second representative of a Bundesliga club. With VfL Osnabrück, SV Wehen Wiesbaden, 1. FC Saarbrücken and Dynamo Dresden, four clubs are playing for a direct promotion place and a relegation place on the last matchday.
How is the record in the relegation?
Since the introduction for the 2008/09 season, only three second division clubs have prevailed. These were 1. FC Nürnberg (2009 against Energie Cottbus), Fortuna Düsseldorf (2012 against Hertha BSC) and Union Berlin (2019 against VfB Stuttgart). Last season, Hertha BSC saved themselves after a 0-1 first-leg defeat in Hamburg against HSV (2-0).
In the duel of the second division 16. and third league third parties it looks completely different. In 14 duels, the team from the lower class prevailed ten times, last year 1. FC Kaiserslautern managed to win promotion to the second division against Dresden (0-0 and 2-0). For Osnabrück it could already be the fifth relegation – each time the Lower Saxony have been inferior.
Does the away goals rule?
No, the DFL abolished the away goals rule after UEFA abolished the rule in Europe in 2021.
Who transfers the relegation?
The private broadcaster Sat.1 will broadcast all four games live on television. In the sports show you can follow the games in the live ticker and audio stream.