--- title: "Bundesliga 2026/27: format, relegation play-off and how to follow | KickFlow" description: "The Bundesliga 2026/27 explained: 18 clubs and 34 matchdays, the Relegation play-off where 16th faces the third-placed side from 2. Bundesliga, goal-difference tiebreakers, Europe's longest winter break and how to follow it live on iPhone." canonical: https://kickflow.app.br/en/guides/bundesliga-2026-27-guide language: en updated: 2026-08-07 --- [KickFlow](https://kickflow.app.br/en/) ยท [Guides](https://kickflow.app.br/en/guides/) # Bundesliga 2026/27: format, relegation play-off and how to follow Updated 7 August 2026 The Bundesliga is the shortest of the big five leagues and, along with Ligue 1, the only one where finishing 16th does not yet mean going down. This guide covers the 18-club format, the two-legged play-off, the tiebreakers and how to follow every matchday live. ## The format: 18 clubs, 34 matchdays Germany plays with **18 clubs**, not 20. That means 34 matchdays home and away and 306 matches, four fewer per club than England, Spain and Italy. Fewer fixtures, a less congested calendar and a season that finishes earlier. The Bundesliga also takes the **longest winter break** of the big five, disappearing from mid-December to mid-January. While England is playing on Boxing Day, German football simply stops for weeks. ## The play-off: a second chance for 16th This is the most important structural difference. In Germany **17th and 18th are relegated automatically** to 2. Bundesliga. But **16th is not**: it plays the *Relegation*, a two-legged play-off against the third-placed club in the second tier. **How it works:** the first leg is hosted by the second-tier club and the second leg by the Bundesliga club, so the top-flight side finishes at home. The tie is decided on aggregate, and **since 2024/25 the away goals rule no longer applies**, so a level aggregate goes to extra time and, if needed, penalties. That changes how the bottom of the table reads in the closing weeks. In a 20-club league the relegation line is one hard border. In Germany there are two: 16th, which buys a second chance, and 17th, which buys nothing. A single point separates a play-off from an automatic drop. ## The tiebreakers Germany follows the English school: **goal difference first**, head-to-head much later. The order is: 1. **Goal difference.** 1. **Goals scored.** 1. **Head-to-head points** between the tied clubs. 1. **Head-to-head goals scored.** 1. **Away goals** in those matches. *First tiebreaker and league size across Europe's big five.* | League | First tiebreaker | Clubs | | --- | --- | --- | | Bundesliga | Goal difference | 18 | | Ligue 1 | Goal difference | 18 | | Premier League | Goal difference | 20 | | La Liga | Head-to-head | 20 | | Serie A | Head-to-head | 20 | The [La Liga](https://kickflow.app.br/en/guides/la-liga-2026-27-guide) and [Serie A](https://kickflow.app.br/en/guides/serie-a-2026-27-guide) guides cover the opposite model, where beating your rival outranks thrashing everyone else. ## European places Germany has four automatic Champions League places, first through fourth, with Europa League and Conference League below. The DFB-Pokal winner also takes a European place, and when that club has already qualified through the table the place passes down the standings. This season's two European Performance Spots, UEFA's bonus extra place, went to England and Spain. A strong continental campaign from German clubs this year could earn Germany that fifth place for next season. ## How to follow it on iPhone The classic Bundesliga slot is the Saturday afternoon block with several matches kicking off at once, which is precisely when a single scoreline is useless and a live multi-match view earns its place. 1. Open the competition switcher and pick the Bundesliga. 1. Follow the clubs you care about. 1. Turn on goal and kick-off alerts, with times converted to your own time zone. 1. Use Live Activities to keep the score on your Lock Screen. The alerts walkthrough is in the [goal notifications guide](https://kickflow.app.br/en/guides/football-goal-notifications-iphone). Follow the Bundesliga live, free. [Download KickFlow on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6778988090?pt=128388279&ct=seo&mt=8) ## Frequently asked questions ### How many teams, and how many go down? 18 clubs, 34 matchdays. 17th and 18th go down automatically; 16th plays a play-off against the third-placed second-tier club. ### How does the play-off work? Two legs, with the return at the Bundesliga club. Since 2024/25 there is no away goals rule. ### What are the tiebreakers? Goal difference, goals scored, then head-to-head. ### Is there a winter break? Yes, the longest of the big five: mid-December to mid-January. ### How many Champions League places? Four automatic this season. The two extra European Performance Spots went to England and Spain. Read next: [Ligue 1 2026/27](https://kickflow.app.br/en/guides/ligue-1-2026-27-guide) and [Premier League 2026/27](https://kickflow.app.br/en/guides/premier-league-2026-27-guide).