Bundesliga Standings

Bundesliga Standings: How the German Table Works

This page shows the current Bundesliga standings for the 2026/27 season and explains what the table means. The live table below updates automatically after every match, listing each club with games played, wins, draws, losses, goals, goal difference and points. Read on under the table for how the Bundesliga is structured, what each position wins or risks, how teams level on points are separated, the key dates for this season, and how to watch from New Zealand. If the columns themselves are unfamiliar, our guide on how to read a sports standings table walks through each one.

How the Bundesliga works

The Bundesliga is the top division of German football, run by the Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL). Eighteen clubs play each other twice – once at home and once away – across 34 matchdays, for a total of 306 matches in a season. Teams earn three points for a win, one for a draw and none for a defeat, and the standings are ordered by total points, highest first.

There are no divisions or conferences within the league and no regular-season play-off for the title: the club top of the table after all 34 rounds is the German champion and lifts the Meisterschale (the championship shield).

What each position in the Bundesliga table means

Where a club finishes decides its prize or its punishment. The top of the table leads to European competition for the following season, and the bottom leads to relegation. The exact positions are below.

Who wins the title

First place wins the Bundesliga. Because the title is decided on points alone, a team can be champion before the final matchday if no rival can catch it. If two clubs finish level on points at the top, the tiebreakers below decide the title – there is no separate championship final.

Champions League places

Positions 1 to 4 qualify directly for the UEFA Champions League league phase. In some seasons Germany also earns a fifth Champions League berth through UEFA’s “European Performance Spots”, which are awarded to the two associations whose clubs performed best in Europe the previous season. Because that depends on results across a whole European season, the exact Champions League cut-off can shift between 4th and 5th from year to year – always check the official table’s colour legend for the current season.

Europa League and Conference League places

Fifth place normally goes to the UEFA Europa League league phase, and sixth place enters the UEFA Conference League play-off round. The winner of the DFB-Pokal (the German Cup) also takes a Europa League place; if the cup winner has already qualified through the league, that berth passes down, nudging the Conference League spot to seventh. The number of German clubs in Europe therefore usually sits between six and seven.

Relegation and the relegation play-off

The bottom two clubs, 17th and 18th, are relegated automatically to the 2. Bundesliga (the second tier). Sixteenth place is not safe either: that club enters a two-legged relegation play-off against the third-placed team in the 2. Bundesliga, with the winner taking the final top-flight spot for next season.

How teams level on points are ranked

When two or more clubs finish on the same number of points, the Bundesliga separates them in a set order. Unlike some leagues that look at head-to-head results first, the Bundesliga uses overall goal difference as the first tiebreaker:

1. Goal difference across all matches (goals scored minus goals conceded).
2. Total goals scored across all matches.
3. Head-to-head record between the tied clubs (points, then away goals in those games).
4. Away goals scored overall, and, as a last resort, a play-off on neutral ground.

This is why two clubs on identical points can sit in a different order from one week to the next. For a fuller walk-through of the chain that applies across sports, see our explainer on how sports standings are ranked, and if a column label is unclear, the glossary of standings table abbreviations covers what each one stands for.

Key dates for the 2026/27 season

The 2026/27 Bundesliga started on 28 August 2026, a week later than usual because of the FIFA World Cup in mid-2026. The season runs through to late May 2027.

• First matchday: 28-30 August 2026.
• Winter break: the league pauses after Matchday 14 (18-20 December 2026) and resumes on 8 January 2027.
• Final matchday: Matchday 34 is on 22 May 2027, with all nine games kicking off at the same time to keep the finish fair.
• Relegation play-off: first legs on 27/28 May 2027 and second legs on 31 May/1 June 2027.

How the season ends

The Bundesliga is decided by the table, not by a knockout final. After 34 rounds the club with the most points is champion; there is no title play-off. The main drama of the last day is that every match starts simultaneously, so the title, European places and relegation spots can all change in the same few minutes. Only the relegation play-off (16th against the 2. Bundesliga’s third-placed side) extends beyond the regular 34 matchdays.

How to follow the Bundesliga from New Zealand

In New Zealand the Bundesliga is streamed on beIN SPORTS CONNECT, which carries every match live and on demand on web, mobile, tablet and smart TVs. At the time of writing the New Zealand plans are NZ$16.99 per month or NZ$169.99 for an annual pass; check beIN for the current offer before subscribing.

Games are shown in the small hours and early morning New Zealand time. During the season the common kick-off slots land around 3:30am, 5:30am and 6:30am NZDT, with the marquee Saturday fixture often at 6:30am. New Zealand switches between NZDT (daylight time, roughly late September to early April) and NZST, so exact times can shift by an hour depending on the date – the live table above and the official listings carry the confirmed kick-off for each round. For how New Zealand’s own competitions rank teams, browse the rest of sports standings explained.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many teams are in the Bundesliga?

Eighteen clubs play in the Bundesliga. Each plays the other 17 twice – home and away – over 34 matchdays, which is 306 matches in a season.

How are Bundesliga standings calculated?

Clubs earn three points for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss. The table is ordered by total points; when teams are level, goal difference is the first tiebreaker, then total goals scored, then the head-to-head record.

How many Bundesliga teams qualify for the Champions League?

The top four qualify for the Champions League league phase. In some seasons Germany earns a fifth place through UEFA’s European Performance Spots, so the exact cut-off can move – check the current season’s official table legend.

How does relegation from the Bundesliga work?

The bottom two clubs (17th and 18th) are relegated automatically to the 2. Bundesliga. The club in 16th plays a two-legged relegation play-off against the third-placed 2. Bundesliga side for the last top-flight place.

Is the Bundesliga title decided by a play-off?

No. The club with the most points after all 34 matchdays is champion. There is no title final or play-off; only the relegation issue can go to an extra two-legged tie.