Everything you need to know about the Bundesliga

The Bundesliga has a full schedule of games this weekend, making it the first major European soccer league to return to game action in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Here is everything you need to know about the Bundesliga before the resumption of the 2019-20 season, which kicks off with six matches on Saturday. 

How many teams are in the Bundesliga?

There are 18 teams in the Bundesliga. The top four teams in the standings advance to the group stage of the EUFA Champions League. Unfortunately for clubs at the bottom of the standings, there is the threat of relegation to the second tier, Bundesliga 2. 

The bottom two teams in the Bundesliga get relegated, while the team that is third to last plays in a two-legged playoff to determine if that club is relegated, or stays in the top tier. 

What level is the Bundesliga?

The Bundesliga is one of the top soccer leagues in Europe, and there are plenty of opinions online about how it stacks up to the Premier League and La Liga in Spain. 

While definitely competitive and renowned throughout the world with clubs like Bayern Munich, the Premier League in England still garners more attention in other parts of the world. 

One ESPN report likened the Premier League to the NFL in terms of an American sports equivalent. That’s not to say the Bundesliga isn’t competitive or lacks talent, but in the minds of some, it's still a tier below. 

Can I bet on the Bundesliga?

Yes, you can bet on the Bundesliga at BetAmerica. There are a variety of match odds for all nine games this weekend, as well as futures markets. 

How long is a Bundesliga season?

The Bundesliga season typically runs from August to May. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the league to postpone its season for two months, beginning in March. 

There are nine rounds of matches remaining in the 2020 season. 

Which Bundesliga team is at the top of the table?

That position currently belongs to Bayern Munich with 55 points and a plus-47 goals differential. Bayern Munich, led by striker Robert Lewandowski with 25 goals in 23 appearances this season, is also the favorite to win the league this year with odds of -500 at BetAmerica. 

Bayern Munich, which had a league-leading 73 goals in 25 games, had won four consecutive matches in a row before play was suspended in March. 

But don’t count out Borussia Dortmund, which featured 20-year-old midfielder Jadon Sancho, who has 14 goals and 15 assists in 23 appearances.

With nine rounds remaining in the season, Dortmund is four points back of Bayern Munich and has outright odds of +550 at BetAmerica. RB Leipzig is still also in the hunt for the title, currently in third place, but just five points behind Bayern Munich. 

Players you might recognize

Alphonso Davies spent three seasons in Major League Soccer in North America, before a record-setting transfer to Bayern Munich prior to his 18th birthday. Davies is now 19 years old and is taking on a more prominent role with the top club in Germany. 

Bundesliga returns Saturday, and you can wager on matches and futures at BetAmerica!