Bundesliga
How does Fantasy Manager work?
Rules, how to amass points and much more - find out all you need to know about the 2025/26 Bundesliga Fantasy Manager right here!
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The most important updates for the 2025/26 season are the return of dynamic market prices, the Daily Bonus for active managers, as well as the possibility to change transfers through the week - additions that will improve the in-game experience. Also, the overhauled points system which was introduced last year and used statistical analysis to reward players' general performances has been tweaked, with further adjustments made to how forwards and goalkeepers win points.
1) Squad-building
Budget and squad size
When you initially register a team, your squad will be filled at random with an overall market value of 150 million. You can make as many transfers as you like prior to the start of Matchday 1.
Your squad will be set up as follows:
- 2 goalkeepers
- 5 defenders
- 5 midfielders
- 3 forwards
The players will be assigned their position at the start of the season, and it will not change at any point of the campaign.
To guarantee a fair playing field, managers who join the game after the start of the season will also be given a random squad with an adjusted value based on the market value of the squads already in the game. Those who register their team after the start of the season will also have unlimited transfers until the start of the next matchday.
Player limit
You can pick a maximum of three players from each Bundesliga team.
2) Selecting your team
Formation and Best-11 mode
Up until the start of the first game of a matchday, you will be able to select your formation as well as 11 starting players. You are not able to change your formation after the start of the opening game of the matchday. If your team is incomplete, you will be notified in your team area.
The Best 11 mode, which is always active, means that the 11 players with the most points, and in conjunction with the selected formation, will count towards the total; that means that players on your bench who perform better than your starters will automatically be brought in. Therefore, you will no longer have to make substitutions manually during a matchday.
Star players
You will be able to choose one player from each position - defence, midfield and attack - in your starting XI as a star player, whose points will be worth 1.5 times the usual amount. Should a star player subsequently fail to earn enough points for the Best 11, no other player will replace him as a star player. If you have not selected any star players, you will be notified in your team area.
Automatic saving
All changes that you make to your team are automatically saved. There is no dedicated save button.
Points
3) Managing your team
Transfers
Up until the start of the first matchday, you are able to make unlimited transfers. From that point on, you can make as many as five transfers between matchdays.
You are able to cancel your transfers until kick-off of the next matchday's first game, which allows you to react to late injuries, for example. Should you undo any transfers, you will need to reselect your starting XI and, if necessary, your star players.
Unlimited transfer periods
During the winter and international breaks, you will also be able to make as many transfers as you like. The exact break dates in 2025/26 are as follows:
- First international break: between Matchday 2 and Matchday 3 (1 to 12 September 2025)
- Second international break: between Matchday 6 and Matchday 7 (6 to 17 October 2025)
- Third international break: between Matchday 10 and Matchday 11 (10 to 21 November 2025)
- Winter break: between Matchday 15 and Matchday 16 (22 December 2025 to 9 January 2026)
- Fourth international break: between Matchday 27 and Matchday 28 (23 March to 4 April 2026)
Dynamic market value
Dynamic pricing is based on player performances and other criteria. Market values will therefore be updated upon the opening of each transfer market.
Daily Bonus
From Matchday 1, you can receive transfer budget bonuses by completing manager activities each day as part of the Daily Bonus. The Daily Bonus will increase each day, for a maximum of seven days, if you complete the relevant activities. Should you miss out a day, you will need to start a new seven-day chain. If you manage to complete a seven-day period, you will start from day one the following day; for example, during international breaks there is a possibility for two seven-day chains.
4) Leagues and rankings
Overall, Matchday, Second Chance and Team rankings
You will automatically join the overall ranking and matchday rankings of the official Bundesliga Fantasy Manager Leagues when you register your team. You also be automatically submitted to the Second Chance league after the winter break.
Late-comer league
All managers who register a team after Matchday 1 will be entered into a Late-comer league. This league will only include managers who entered a team from that specific matchday.
Open and private leagues
Alongside the official Bundesliga Fantasy Manager leagues, you will be able to join or create as many open and private leagues as you wish. When you create a league, you will be able to choose when it starts and can also send a join-up code to other managers.
Optional Head-to-Head modes
They are three different Head-to-Head modes - which will pit you against just one other manager each matchday - to choose from:
- League mode
- Knock-out mode
- League-mode with knockouts
League mode
In League mode, you will face each other manager once, with the length of the competition dependent on how many teams are involved. Like in the Bundesliga, the winner of each game will earn three points, while a point will be awarded to both managers in the case of a draw. You can choose from which matchday the league will start as well as the maximum number of managers who take part; should all of the places in the league not be filled, every manager will receive as many byes as there are empty spots.
Knockout mode
In knockout mode, every manager will face another one - or twice if you choose the two-legged option. The winner of the tie will progress to the next round, while the loser will exit the tournament, until just two managers are left to contest the final. You can also choose on which matchday you wish to start this mode, as well as how many managers take part; again, any places that aren't filled will be listed as byes. In the knock-out mode, every single Fantasy Point from your players will be counted. Should a tie end in a draw, the tie-breakers are as follows:
- Star-player points
- Market value of the squads
- Winner chosen at random
League mode with knockout rounds
League mode with knockout rounds combines the two aforementioned modes. Following the end of the league phase, the best-placed managers will progress to the knockouts. The same rules apply for each phase as in the individual game modes.
Prizes
In each of the overall, matchday, and Second Chance rankings, there are many attractive prizes to be won, such as: a trip to a Bundesliga game of your choice, a trip to the Supercup, signed jerseys and DERBYSTAR footballs.