The 1988–89 Bundesliga was the 26th season of the Bundesliga, the premier football league in West Germany. It began on 22 July 1988[1] and ended on 17 June 1989.[2]SV Werder Bremen were the defending champions.
Competition modus
Every team played two games against each other team, one at home and one away. Teams received two points for a win and one point for a draw. If two or more teams were tied on points, places were determined by goal difference and, if still tied, by goals scored. The team with the most points were crowned champions while the two teams with the fewest points were relegated to 2. Bundesliga. The third-to-last team had to compete in a two-legged relegation/promotion play-off against the third-placed team from 2. Bundesliga.
Source: DFB Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win. Notes:
^The Karlsruher SC v Borussia Mönchengladbach match from 19 November 1988, which finished with a score of 3–1, was annulled by the DFB on 21 December 1988 and was required to be replayed due to Borussia Mönchengladbach player Christian Hochstätter being hit by a projectile, requiring him to be substituted off. On 19 January 1989, the verdict was upheld on appeal. Karlsruher SC also received a one-match stadium ban (served on 18 February 1989 against Hannover 96). The replay took place on 22 February 1989 and finished with a score of 2–2.
Relegation play-offs
Eintracht Frankfurt and third-placed 2. Bundesliga team 1. FC Saarbrücken had to compete in a two-legged relegation/promotion play-off. Frankfurt won 3–2 on aggregate and retained their Bundesliga status.