2022 relegation play-offs: Schedule, format and coverage
16 May 2022 – Following the final matchday of the 2021-22 season in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 last weekend, all fixtures for the relegation play-off matches have now been confirmed.
The first leg of the duel for the final available place in the German top flight between the 16th-placed team in the Bundesliga, Hertha Berlin, and the 3rd-placed team in Bundesliga 2, Hamburger SV, will take place on Thursday, 19 May (8:30 p.m. CEST), in Berlin. The second leg in Hamburg will be played on Monday, 23 May (8:30 p.m. CEST).
The relegation play-off between Bundesliga 2 and 3. Liga will see the 16th-placed team in Bundesliga 2, SG Dynamo Dresden, and the 3rd-placed team in 3. Liga, 1. FC Kaiserslautern, compete against one another. The first leg in Kaiserslautern is scheduled for Friday, 20 May (8:30 p.m. CEST). The second leg in Dresden will follow on Tuesday, 24 May (8:30 p.m. CEST).
Extra time and penalties possible
For the first time since the reintroduction of the relegation play-offs in the 2008-09 season, the away goals rule does not apply this year. Background: Since the play-offs are held as two-legged ties as per the DFL regulations and in line with the regulations for UEFA club competitions, which apply to matches in the knock-out format, the away goals rule no longer applies in the play-offs from the current 2021-22 season – as is the case in the European competitions. If scores are level after both legs, the second leg will go to extra time comprising two periods of 15 minutes. If this still does not produce a winner, the tie will be decided by a penalty shoot-out.
The video assistant and goal-line technology will be used in all four matches.
In each case, home advantage in the second leg is given to the club that had fewer match-free days prior to the first leg based on the fixture list for the past season.
The 2022 relegation play-offs at a glance:
Bundesliga – Bundesliga 2:
– First leg on Thursday, 19 May 2022: Hertha Berlin – Hamburger SV (8:30 p.m. CEST)
– Second leg on Monday, 23 May 2022: Hamburger SV – Hertha Berlin (8:30 p.m. CEST)
Bundesliga 2 – 3. Liga:
– First leg on Friday, 20 May 2022: 1. FC Kaiserslautern – SG Dynamo Dresden (8:30 p.m. CEST)
– Second leg on Tuesday, 24 May 2022: SG Dynamo Dresden – 1. FC Kaiserslautern (8:30 p.m. CEST)