2025 relegation play-offs: Schedule confirmed

14 May 2025 – The DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga announced the exact dates and kick-off times for the 2025 relegation play-off matches for the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 on Wednesday.

Bundesliga – Bundesliga 2

• First leg on Thursday, 22 May 2025: 16th-placed team in the Bundesliga vs. 3rd-placed team in Bundesliga 2 (8:30 p.m. CEST, live on SAT.1 and Sky)
• Second leg on Monday, 26 May 2025: 3rd-placed team in Bundesliga 2 vs. 16th-placed team in the Bundesliga (8:30 p.m. CEST, live on SAT.1 and Sky)

Bundesliga 2 – 3. Liga

• First leg on Friday, 23 May 2025: 3rd-placed team in 3. Liga vs. 16th-placed team in Bundesliga 2 (8:30 p.m. CEST, live on SAT.1 and Sky)
• Second leg on Tuesday, 27 May 2025: 16th-placed team in Bundesliga 2 vs. 3rd-placed team in 3. Liga (8:30 p.m. CEST, live on SAT.1 and Sky)

Note: All kick-off times are subject to coordination with the relevant security authorities once the specific match-ups are confirmed.

In each case, home advantage in the second leg is granted to the club that had fewer match-free days prior to the first leg, based on the fixture list from the previous season.

Extra time and penalties possible – VAR in use
Since the 2021-22 season, the away goals rule no longer applies in the relegation play-offs – in line with UEFA club competition regulations. If scores are level after both legs, the second leg will go to extra time (two periods of 15 minutes). If there is still no winner, the match will be decided by a penalty shoot-out. Both the video assistant referee (VAR) and goal-line technology will be used in all four matches.