Eighteen teams competed in the league – the top fifteen teams from the previous season and the three teams promoted from the
2. Bundesliga. The promoted teams were
Hannover 96,
Arminia Bielefeld and
VfL Bochum, returning to the top flight after an absence of thirteen, two and one years respectively. They replaced
SC Freiburg,
1. FC Köln and
FC St. Pauli after spending time in the top flight for four, two and one years respectively. ==Team overview==