Bundesliga 2025-26 Season Ends – Relegations and Promotions
The Bundesliga season has finally ended with its 34th matchday. The German league had a great run this season, with Bayern Munich claiming the title for the second consecutive time. Having won their 35th domestic title, the Reds redefined history at Allianz. Regarding UCL entries, Stuttgart, Leipzig, Dortmund, and Bayern will enter the group stage for the next season. Hoffenheim and Leverkusen only had the Europa League spots, whereas Freiburg will enter the Conference League qualifiers. On the other hand, the bottom two seeds are relegated to 2. Bundesliga. Heidenheim and St. Pauli are being relegated following their poor performances this season. Lastly, the Relegation Play-offs remain the final thing in determining the 2026-27 teams. Wolfsburg faces Paderborn in the Relegation Play-offs this week.
Relegations to 2. Bundesliga
Heidenheim and St. Pauli were automatically relegated after losing their chance to escape relegation. Heidenheim and St. Pauli had exactly the same record and had a chance to replace Werder and Wolfsburg. But they fumbled their chances numerous times. Heidenheim attempted redemption, but it was too late for them.
Heidenheim’s Road to Relegation
Heidenheim’s three-year run in the German top flight came to a halt after their worst performance in years. They needed a win so badly against Mainz on the final matchday. However, they ended up goalless at home and ultimately lost the chance to stay in the league. But Heidenheim bottled up the chance long before in the season.
St. Pauli’s Relegation to 2. Bundesliga
St. Pauli spent two years in the Bundesliga, from the 2024-25 season onward. Their two-year Bundesliga journey abruptly ended when they failed to capitalize on the three-way battle in Matchday 34. A win against Wolfsburg at Millerntor-Stadion would have kept them in the top-flight contest.
FC Schalke 04 came back with a loud triumph in 2. Bundesliga after years of absence. They confirmed their Bundesliga entry in the 32nd Matchday with a home win against Fortuna. In their very next match, they won the 2. Bundesliga title, promoting them to the Bundesliga.
SV Elversberg’s Entry to the Bundesliga
SV Elversberg made history by entering the Bundesliga with a second-place finish in 2. Bundesliga. They have never been in the Bundesliga before, making this year’s campaign their remarkable debut in the top flight. They are literally the smallest town club to ever participate in the Bundesliga.
Bundesliga Relegation Play-offs Preview
The Bundesliga Relegation Play-offs feature the 17th seed from the Bundesliga and the 3rd seed from 2. Bundesliga. After the last two seeds got relegated, Wolfsburg is set to face Paderborn to stay in the top flight. If they win, they will stay in the league; otherwise, they will be relegated to 2. Bundesliga. Likewise, SV Elversberg will be promoted to the Bundesliga if they beat Wolfsburg in this game. Let’s jump into the detailed teams’ background and predictions.
Bundesliga Relegation Play-offs – Event Detail
Teams: Wolfsburg vs Paderborn
Date: 21 May 2026 (Thursday)
Time: 12:00 AM IST (Next Day) | 02:30 PM EDT
Venue: Volkswagen Arena
Wolfsburg vs Paderborn – Preview
Expected Lineup for Wolfsburg
Position
Player
Goalkeeper
Kamil Grabara
Right Center-Back
Denis Vavro
Centre-Back
Konstantinos Koulierakis
Left Center-Back
Jonas Adjetey
Right Wing-Back
Joakim Mæhle
Central Midfielder
Yannick Gerhardt
Central Midfielder
Lovro Majer
Left Wing-Back
Aaron Zehnter
Attacking Midfielder
Christian Eriksen
Striker
Mohamed Amoura
Striker
Jonas Wind
Currently, Wolfsburg is experiencing a significant dip, with key players on the injury list. Rogério, Bence Dárdai, Maximilian Arnold, Cleiton, and Patrick Wimmer are on the injury list. Besides, Jenson Seelt and Vini Souza are suspended.
Likely Bench / Substitutes
Most Likely to Be Substituted Into the Match
Marius Müller, Pavao Pervan, Jakub Zielinski, Moritz Jenz, Kilian Fischer, Nicolas Cozza, Saël Kumbedi, Jeanuël Belocian, Mathys Angély, Jan Burger, Till Neininger, Mattias Svanberg, Aster Vranckx, Jakub Kamiński, Bartol Franjić, Eryk Grzywacz, Adam Daghim, Pharrell Hensel, Andreas Skov Olsen, Jesper Lindstrøm, Václav Černý, Dženan Pejčinović, Kento Shiogai, Trevor Benedict, Bruno Katz
Andreas Skov Olsen, Václav Černý, Jesper Lindstrøm, Mattias Svanberg, Jakub Kamiński, Aster Vranckx, Moritz Jenz
Expected Lineup for Paderborn
Position
Player
Goalkeeper
Dennis Seimen
Right Center-Back
Kevin Krumm
Centre-Back
Matt Hansen
Left Center-Back
Calvin Brackelmann
Right Wing-Back
Travis de Jong
Central Midfielder
Felix Götze
Central Midfielder
David Kinsombi
Left Wing-Back
Luis Engels
Attacking Midfielder
Mika Baur
Striker
Stefano Marino
Striker
Kennedy Okpala
In Paderborn, Marcel Hoffmeier and Raphael Obermair are injured. This could slightly affect their defense.
Likely Bench / Substitutes
Most Likely to Be Substituted Into theMatch
Markus Schubert, Florian Pruhs, Laurin Curda, Kerem Yalcin, Tjark Lasse Scheller, Jonah Sticker, Tristan Zobel, Anton Bauerle, Filip Bilbija, Sebastian Klaas, Nick Bätzner, Bennit Broger, Marco Wörner, Joel Vega Zambrano, Ruben Muller, Sven Michel, Steffen Tigges, Lucas Copado
Filip Bilbija, Sven Michel, Steffen Tigges, Lucas Copado, Nick Bätzner, Sebastian Klaas
Wolfsburg has always been a considerable team in the Bundesliga. They have even won a league title earlier. But Paderborn had never been in the Bundesliga before. They don’t have that much exposure, whereas Wolfsburg had beaten giants at some point. Besides, Wolfsburg has scored goals against top-tier teams like Frankfurt, Hoffenheim, and Leverkusen recently. In contrast, Paderborn comes to the challenge as a fresh team against an experienced Wolfsburg. But still, Paderborn’s performance is somewhat good when compared. They came third in 2. Bundesliga this season. So, the win is not easy for Wolfsburg either.
Tactical Strengths
Wolfsburg has adopted safer defensive tactics. They protect their spaces directly against attackers rather than pressing high for the ball. Paderborn, however, has a patient midfield approach. When it comes to attacks, Paderborn prefers short passing and vertical transitions. But Wolfsburg stays with long balls and by-passing the midfield. Wolfsburg’s aggressive, yet high-risk approach makes them the winning side in this game.
The Pick: Wolfsburg.
Bundesliga 2025-26 Season
This 2025-26 Bundesliga season was memorable for every German club, especially Bayern Munich, as they won their 35th title. Harry Kane defied the trophyless curse once again with his second title with the Reds. Borussia Dortmund lands in the second spot, a drastic improvement from its previous season. Besides, VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig have captured the UCL spots. Despite UCL disappointments with Bayern and Dortmund, the 2025-26 Bundesliga season was a fan favorite. Concisely, the Bundesliga 2025-26 season was a standout in the Big Five.