1981–82 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 two teams with the least 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.

Team changes to 1980–81

TSV 1860 Munich, FC Schalke 04 and Bayer 05 Uerdingen were relegated to the 2. Bundesliga after finishing in the last three places. They were replaced by SV Werder Bremen, winners of the 2. Bundesliga Northern Division, SV Darmstadt 98, winners of the Southern Division and Eintracht Braunschweig, who won a two-legged promotion play-off against Kickers Offenbach.

League table

Source: www.dfb.de
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
¹As Bayern Munich !Bayern Munich qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup, their UEFA Cup spot was transferred to Borussia Dortmund.
(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.

Relegation/Promotion play-off

Bayer Leverkusen and third-placed 2. Bundesliga team Kickers Offenbach had to compete in a two-legged relegation/promotion play-off. Leverkusen won 3–1 on aggregate and thus remained in the Bundesliga.

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