1980–81 Bundesliga

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 three teams with the least points were relegated to 2. Bundesliga.

Team changes to 1979–80

Hertha BSC, SV Werder Bremen and Eintracht Braunschweig were relegated to the 2. Bundesliga after finishing in the last three places. They were replaced by Arminia Bielefeld, winners of the 2. Bundesliga Northern Division, 1. FC Nuremberg, winners of the Southern Division and Karlsruher SC, who won a two-legged promotion play-off against Rot-Weiss Essen.

League table

Source: www.dfb.de
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
¹As Eintracht Frankfurt !Eintracht Frankfurt qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup, their UEFA Cup spot was transferred to Mönchengladbach.
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

Results

Source: www.dfb.de
1 ^{^} The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top goalscorers