PGE Ekstraliga and METALKAS 2. Ekstraliga with a new competition system. Return of playoffs, 140 matches in the season
17.12.2024 12:58Significant changes await the competition systems in the PGE Ekstraliga, as well as in the METALKAS 2. Ekstraliga. From the upcoming season, the table after the main round will be divided into playoffs and play-downs. In total, fans can expect 140 matches, including the return of playoffs.
- The system will be uniform for both classes of competition.
- After the main phase (14 rounds, each team plays each other), team competition will be divided into playoffs (teams from places 1-4) and play-down for teams from places 5-8.
- New from the 2025 season will be the choice by teams from positions 1 and 5 of opponents in the first stage of the final phase (in both leagues). The second pair will consist of the remaining teams.
- In the playoff group, winning teams advance to the finals, while losers will compete in the match for the bronze medal (not applicable to METALKAS 2. Ekstraliga).
- In the play-down part, teams that win their semi-finals occupy places 5 and 6. The losers will compete in a double match to stay in the league.
- Next year’s competition also marks the return of playoff matches. These will involve the 7th team after the play-down phase of the PGE Ekstraliga and the 2nd team from the playoffs of the METALKAS 2. Ekstraliga.
- Thanks to this change, rotation between the two professional leagues in Poland is possible. Playoffs do not apply to the lower part of the METALKAS 2. Ekstraliga standings – the defeated team in the match to stay will be relegated to the National Speed League.
- The new season will also bring small changes to the match broadcast days. In the PGE Ekstraliga, these will still be Fridays (LIVE ELEVEN SPORTS) and Sundays (LIVE on CANAL+ Sport and CANAL+ online), while in the METALKAS 2. Ekstraliga, these will be Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays (LIVE CANAL+ Sport5 and CANAL+ online).
- An interesting detail is that each METALKAS 2. Ekstraliga club will have one match scheduled on a Thursday.