As the top league in Germany, the Bundesliga has a huge fan base from all over the world watching the matches. There are a few teams that dominate the top of the table every year, with one team standing out from the rest. Each year, the competition in the league gets better. Knowing how many games are played domestically each season helps fans keep track of the standings. So exactly how many games in bundesliga season? Let’s find out with Win Betting Tips in the following article!
Learn about the Bundesliga
There are a total of 34 matches in a Bundesliga season. Teams play each other twice in any given campaign – once at home and once away. After each club has played all 34 matches, the team with the most points at the end of the season is crowned league champions.
When did the Bundesliga start?
The Bundesliga officially began in 1963. That means the first champions, FC Köln, lifted the trophy in 1964. The league has undergone quite a few changes over the years, mainly due to the number of teams, the number of relegations and the qualification of teams for European competitions.
Traditionally, the Bundesliga is not as competitive as some other European domestic leagues. However, they still have the majority of their leagues won by Bayern Munich. They are the only team that consistently competes with any other team in the world because of their funding.
How does the Bundesliga season work?
- Bundesliga season: August - May
- Low season: June - July
Like many other European domestic leagues, the Bundesliga regular season involves each team in the league playing twice. With 18 teams in the league, this results in 34 matches per Bundesliga season.
Each team plays the other 17 teams once away and once at home. At the end of the season, the team that tops the table is crowned champions. The deciding criteria include goal difference, total goals scored and head-to-head win ratio, in that order.
Other matches of the year
Bundesliga teams don’t just play 34 games a year. Some of the top teams can play even more thanks to all the different cups and competitions they play in. The number one goal for any European club is to qualify for the Champions League. To do this, they need to finish the previous year in the Bundesliga with a great record. The Bundesliga is officially in the top four of UEFA’s member club coefficient until at least 2023-24. That means the top four clubs automatically qualify for the Champions League the following season.
There is also the opportunity for a fifth Bundesliga club to enter the Champions League. The winners of the Champions League and Europa League automatically enter the Champions League the following year, so if they finish outside the top four domestically, they become the fifth team. The fifth and sixth placed teams in the Bundesliga automatically qualify for the Europa League the following season. The DFB Cup winners also automatically qualify for the Europa League, provided they have not qualified or entered the Champions League.
Finally, there are random competitions and cups held throughout the year that can attract local interest. Competitions are weighted differently, so teams may allow players who don’t usually play much to play in lesser-known matches. In some cases, these are glorified exhibitions, especially for teams with big budgets.
How does relegation work in the Bundesliga?
At the end of each season, Germany handles relegation a little differently than most other leagues. They use a relegation play-off to decide whether the two underdogs stay or advance.
This play-off pits the 16th-placed team in the Bundesliga against the third-placed team in the Bundesliga 2. The play-off system is a two-legged affair, with the winner getting a chance to play in the Bundesliga the following year.
The aim each year is to complete this play-off round within 10 days of the end of the regular season. This adds a bit of drama as teams battle to compete at the top level next year.
The teams that finish 17th and 18th in the Bundesliga are automatically relegated to the Bundesliga 2. Meanwhile, the teams that finish first and second in the Bundesliga 2 are promoted to the Bundesliga the following year. Although there has been talk of additional playoffs, there has only been one playoff.
Which team is the strongest in the Bundesliga?
In recent memory, the most dominant team has been Bayern Munich. Not only have they competed for the national championship title every year, but they are also a major force in international competition.
They have reached the Champions League Final 11 times and have won six of them all time. Their payroll makes them a force to be reckoned with in the world.
Historically, several other teams have topped the Bundesliga table alongside Bayern Munich. Borussia Dortmund are the most consistent team outside of Bayern Munich, having won the Fire title and finished runners-up eight times domestically. They are also the last team to win the Bundesliga other than Bayern Munich, winning in 2011–12.
Borussia Mönchengladbach and Werder Bremen are the only other two teams to have won four or more titles. Many clubs have achieved historic feats, but sustained success is harder to come by.
Conclusion
The Bundesliga is one of the world's premier football leagues, with Germany's top teams competing in 34 matches each season. The unique competition system, the competitiveness and the excitement of the matches have helped the Bundesliga maintain its global appeal. If you've ever wondered "how many games in the Bundesliga season", the obvious answer is 34, with each team playing 17 home and 17 away games. Thanks for reading.
