Bundesliga 2, contested by 18 clubs, follows the usual double round-robin format. Each club plays the others twice, once at home and once away. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points at the end of the season. If teams are tied, then count the goal difference and total goals scored. Since the 2018-19 season, the two top teams in the league are directly promoted to Bundesliga. The third place and the sixteenth place of Bundesliga compete for the last place in Bundesliga through a double-legged promotion playoffs. The last two clubs of 2. Bundesliga are automatically relegated to 3. Liga. The third-to-last and the third place in 3. Liga compete for the qualification to the 2. Bundesliga through a double-legged relegation playoffs.