DFL announces dates for relegation
It all starts on May 22nd: The German Football League (DFL) has set the exact dates for the relegation matches of the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga.
The first match will be between the 16th-placed team in the Bundesliga and the third-placed team in the 2. Bundesliga on May 22nd. As usual, the 1. Bundesliga team will play a home game first. The return match will take place on May 26th.
There's a lot to suggest that Bundesliga side 1. FC Heidenheim (29 points) will have to—or be allowed to—play off in the relegation playoffs. The team is three points behind 1899 Hoffenheim and FC St. Pauli. It has the worst goal difference of its two rivals. Heidenheim would have to make up six goals against Hoffenheim and 13 against St. Pauli.
Five teams could be in the relegation zone after matchday 34 in the 2. Bundesliga: 1. FC Köln (58 points), SV Elversberg (55), Paderborn (55), Fortuna Düsseldorf (53), and 1. FC Kaiserslautern (53). Cologne has the best chance of second place and thus direct promotion. Elversberg is in third place before matchday 34.
Braunschweig, Münster, Fürth - the great tremblingOne day later, the 16th-placed team in the 2nd division will play against the third-placed team in the 3rd division, with the 3rd division having home advantage. Eintracht Braunschweig currently occupies 16th place in the 2nd division (35 points). Preußen Münster (35) and SpVgg Greuther Fürth (36) could still slip there. At least in theory, the same applies to Schalke 04 (38).
In the 3rd league, Energie Cottbus (62 points), 1. FC Saarbrücken (62) and Hansa Rostock (60) have the opportunity to qualify for the relegation on the last matchday.
Bielefeld's winning streak in the cup raised questionsThird-division club Arminia Bielefeld's entry into the DFB-Pokal final left questions unanswered. For a long time, it was unclear whether Bielefeld would have to play in the relegation playoffs for the 2. Bundesliga. The responsible DFL had already found alternative dates for this. However, this did not happen: Bielefeld was promoted directly.
The cup final against VfB Stuttgart will take place on May 24 in Berlin, one day after the relegation first leg.
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