😮 Never happened before: will the Bundesliga season end in a play-off?
TL;DR
The Bundesliga season could end with a playoff match for the first time ever, depending on today's final matchday results. The outcomes will determine relegation and Champions League qualifications.
Key points
- Bundesliga season could end with a playoff match
- First time in history for Bundesliga playoffs
- Final matchday determines relegation and Champions League spots
😮 Never happened before: will the Bundesliga season end in a play-off?
Today is the very last matchday of this year’s Bundesliga season. In just a few hours, we will finally know which teams are relegated, who secures the Champions League tickets, and in what position the clubs will finish the campaign.
There is, however, one scenario in which the ranking of two clubs would still have to be decided even after today’s final whistle. Of course, that is pretty unlikely, but during Heidenheim’s comeback run at the latest, we were once again reminded that miracles are definitely possible on the big football stage and that there are stories only sport can write.
This season could end with a playoff match at a neutral venue for the very first time ever.
If Gladbach beat TSG Hoffenheim 5–4 and HSV draw 4–4 with Leverkusen, both clubs would have the same number of points, the same goal difference, the same number of goals scored, an even head-to-head record, the same number of away goals scored in the head-to-head, and the same total number of away goals scored overall.
So who would get the higher placing then, which is important because TV money, among other things, depends heavily on it?
According to a report by the ‘Rheinische Post’, it would not come down to the fair play table or anything similar; according to the regulations, it would actually lead to a playoff match at a neutral venue.
That would be a truly extraordinary scenario.
What do you think? Would you like to see such a playoff match, even if, from a sporting perspective, there is not all that much at stake anymore? Feel free to write it in the comments!
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.
Q&A
What would cause the Bundesliga season to end in a playoff?
A playoff would occur if two clubs finish the season with the same points and need to determine their final ranking.
When is the last matchday of the Bundesliga season?
The last matchday of the Bundesliga season is today, marking the conclusion of the current campaign.
How does the playoff system work in the Bundesliga?
The playoff system involves a match at a neutral venue to decide the final ranking between clubs that finish with identical points.

