Bochum and Holstein Kiel finished in the bottom two places in the 2024/25 season, while Heidenheim stayed up after winning the play-off tie against Elversberg.
The bottom two teams in the Bundesliga - at the end of the season - are immediately relegated while two teams from 2. Bundesliga are promoted. The third and final relegation, as well as promotion, is decided by a two-legged play-off game. Along with Ligue 1, the Bundesliga is the only one of the top five leagues to have such a system, with the others having three immediate-relegation spots.
This means that even if a team finishes the season in 16th place, with the Bundesliga being an 18-team league instead of 20, the team in question could still play in the top flight for next season. Bochum won the play-off against Düsseldorf in 2023/24 after penalty shootout drama. Incredibly enough, both teams won their respective away games 3-0, resulting in the stalemate.