Sports
16 Jul, 2025
New to football and not sure how to start watching the Bundesliga?
This beginner-friendly Bundesliga guide for Indian fans covers everything you need to know.
It explains the most popular teams and star players, how the promotion and relegation system works, and even shows you where to watch Bundesliga matches live for free.
Simple, clear, and made for those who want to follow German football without any confusion.
The Bundesliga is the highest-level professional football league in Germany. It officially started in 1963 and has over 60 years of history.
Each season, 18 top teams compete in a fast-paced, high-intensity format.
Bundesliga is known for quick transitions between attack and defense, with goals often scored in the blink of an eye.
In fact, the Bundesliga usually has a higher average number of goals per match than the other top European leagues.
Many world-class players began their careers here! for example, Erling Haaland became a global star thanks to his time in the Bundesliga.
The Bundesliga features 18 teams each season. While the number stays the same, the clubs may changed every year due to the promotion and relegation system.
For the 2025–26 Bundesliga season, the 18 teams are:
The Bundesliga (Germany), Premier League (England), La Liga (Spain), Serie A (Italy), and Ligue 1 (France) are the top-level football leagues of their respective countries.
Together, they are referred to as the five major European leagues.
The most popular team in Bundesliga is definitely FC Bayern München!
With 33 titles (as of the 2024-25 season), they’re almost a symbol of the league itself.
If you’re new and not sure which team to follow, this is the one.
The team’s star player, Harry Kane, is the captain of the England national team. He scored 36 goals in the 2023-24 season.
There’s also Jamal Musiala, known as the "German Messi." At just 22 years old, he’s already worth €140 million(around ₹1260 crore).
His dribbling is another level. Taking the ball from him? Bro, not happening.
Bayern’s playing style is wide and aggressive, with defense as solid as a fortress.
Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena legit looks like a glowing spaceship from the outside.
But once you step in, you can feel the power of the Red Giants everywhere. Full-on energy!
Bayern’s biggest rival, known as the "Black and Yellow Army," Borussia Dortmund has won the Bundesliga title 5 times, with the most recent in 2011-12 season.
Their style is all about quick counterattacks that catch opponents off guard. Rising star Karim Adeyemi is lightning-fast! like a "cheetah on the field."
Dortmund’s famous "Yellow Wall" is made up of 25,000 fans and can generate noise up to 85 decibels. It’s like a sound bomb in the football world.
Their home stadium has even been used as a movie set - the atmosphere feels like something straight out of a Hollywood action film.
The "Unbeaten Kings" of the 2023-24 season, with 28 wins and 6 draws, winning their first-ever Bundesliga title and ending Bayern’s 11-year streak.
Led by coach Xabi Alonso’s brilliant tactics and the energy of young players, they became the dark horse of a new era.
Their star player, Florian Wirtz, is just 22 years old - a young captain known for his exceptional playmaking and assists.
Leverkusen’s playing style is like Indian street dance: fast-paced, unpredictable, and full of rhythm, leaving their opponents completely confused.
In 2023-24, they didn’t just win the Bundesliga! they also reached the Europa League final, almost becoming a "double champion."
Nicknamed “The Monster Buu,” he’s known for his incredible speed and powerful shots.
He scored 62 goals in 67 Bundesliga appearances — almost one goal per match.
Truly one of the most unstoppable goal machines in modern football.
(He has transferred to Manchester City but rose to fame in the Bundesliga.)
(FC Bayern München) is a complete forward - excellent at shooting, passing, and playmaking. He can do everything!
His headers and long-range shots give goalkeepers nightmares. He is also the current captain of the England national team.
(Leverkusen) A 22-year-old German talent with outstanding dribbling skills and pinpoint passing.
He often pulls off unbelievable runs and goals, and is seen as the future star of German football.
Wirtz was part of Köln’s youth academy as a child, but eventually chose to join Leverkusen! a move that made Köln fans call him a “traitor”!
(FC Bayern München) Jamal Musiala The “German Messi” at just 22 years old, with a market value of €140 million - the most expensive player in the Bundesliga!
His dribbling is top-class. In a 2023 Champions League match against Barcelona, he scored after taking on three defenders by himself - even Messi couldn’t help but applaud!
Former Bayern superstar striker, who set a Bundesliga record with 41 goals in the 2020–21 season. He later transferred to Barcelona.
A loyal soul of Borussia Dortmund, serving the club for over 10 years.
He may not have won many titles, but he’s a true hero in the hearts of the fans.
Bayern’s “living fossil,” known for his assists and intelligent movement! often called the “Assist King” of the Bundesliga.
Müller is known as the “Raumdeuter” (interpreter of space) because he always finds open gaps.
Even Messi once said he’s difficult to defend!
You thought I was going to say Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Of course not - they’ve never played in the Bundesliga!
The Bundesliga season usually runs from late August to mid-May each year.
Most matches are played on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
The main timeslot is Saturday 3:30 PM (Germany) / 7:00 PM IST - perfect for after work or school.
There’s also a Friday night match at 8:30 PM (12:00 AM IST) and two on Sunday at 5:30 and 7:30 PM (9:00 and 11:00 PM IST).
Each round also features one "top match," usually scheduled on Saturday at 6:30 PM (German time) or 10:00 PM IST, often a big clash like Bayern vs Dortmund.
The 18 teams play in a double round-robin format, with a total of 34 matchdays. Each team plays 34 matches - facing the other 17 teams twice, once at home and once away.
A win gives 3 points, a draw 1 point, and a loss 0 points.
At the end of season, the team with highest total points becomes the Bundesliga champion and lifts the shiny "salad plate" trophy.
The bottom two teams in Bundesliga (17th and 18th place) are directly relegated to the 2. Bundesliga (second division).
The team finishes 16th plays a relegation playoff against the 3rd place team from the 2. Bundesliga - the winner stays in the Bundesliga, the loser goes down.
The Bundesliga champion - along with top four teams - qualifies directly for the Champions League group stage, the highest honor in club football. Prize money can reach ten million euros.
Playing in the Champions League means facing the strongest clubs in Europe - it’s every player’s and team’s dream.
The 5th and 6th teams are qualify for the Europa League, which is also a major competition.
Since the Bundesliga was founded in 1963, FC Bayern München has won the league more than 30 times.
In fact, they have won more Bundesliga titles than all the other clubs combined!
As of the 2024–25 season, here are the main Bundesliga title winners:
Bayern won 11 consecutive titles from 2012 to 2023, a streak that was finally broken by Leverkusen’s unbeaten run in 2023–24 season.
Watching Bundesliga matches live in India is very easy - platforms like Star Sports and FanCode offer full coverage (subscription required for full access).
But on VEGAS11 Sportsbook, you can watch every Bundesliga match for free - no subscription needed, 100% free!
Live streams of the Top 5 football leagues, the World Cup, Club World Cup, and more - everything you need, all in one place.
© 2025 Vegas11 Official Blog
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