The Bundesliga reaches its final matchday on Saturday, while the 2. Bundesliga wraps up on Sunday. But what if multiple teams end up level on points?
The title has already been decided – the focus of the final round (May 17) now falls on the thrilling battle for the remaining Champions League spots. Currently, RB Leipzig (3rd), VfB Stuttgart (4th), and Bayer Leverkusen (5th) are locked in a tight contest for qualification. At the bottom of the table, three teams are tied on points. In the second division, everything remains wide open except for two already-settled outcomes.
So what actually happens if teams are tied on points after the final round? You’ll find the answer below.
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What happens in case of a points tie in the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga? The possible scenarios
It’s not just at the top of the table where teams are fighting for everything on matchday 34. No team has been confirmed for relegation yet. Thanks to a spectacular recovery, 1. FC Heidenheim (17th) has a real chance to climb into the relegation playoff spot. A win over FSV Mainz 05, who now have nothing left to play for but pride, could propel coach Frank Schmidt’s side to 16th place. That’s because VfL Wolfsburg (16th) and FC St. Pauli (18th) face each other directly.
In the 2. Bundesliga, the season finale is also extremely exciting. Three teams are battling for the second promotion spot behind champions Schalke 04: SV Elversberg, Hannover 96, and SC Paderborn – all on 59 points. At the bottom, the fight is just as fierce. If Greuther Fürth beats Fortuna Düsseldorf, Arminia Bielefeld gets at least a point against Hertha BSC, and Braunschweig loses to Schalke, then four clubs would end up with 37 points. Only Preußen Münster is already confirmed as relegated.
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What happens in case of a points tie in the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga?
When points are level in the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga, several criteria are applied to determine the ranking – these follow a fixed order with different weights.
1. Goal difference: First, goal difference decides. The team with the better difference between goals scored and conceded ranks higher.
2. Number of goals scored: If goal difference doesn’t separate them, the higher number of goals scored counts.
3. Head-to-head record: If still tied, the aggregate result of the home and away matches between the tied teams is considered.
4. Away goals in head-to-head: If the head-to-head is also level, the team that scored more away goals in those matches takes precedence.
5. Total away goals: Next, the overall away goals from the entire season are taken into account.
6. Deciding match: If none of these break the tie, a final decider is played on neutral ground.
Bundesliga: Table before Matchday 34
| Position | Team | Games | Goals | Diff. | Points |
|———-|——|——-|——-|——-|——–|
| 1 | FC Bayern Munich | 33 | 117:35 | +82 | 86 |
| 2 | Borussia Dortmund | 33 | 68:34 | +34 | 70 |
| 3 | RB Leipzig | 33 | 65:43 | +22 | 65 |
| 4 | VfB Stuttgart | 33 | … | … | … |