The three newly promoted sides—SV Elversberg, SC Paderborn, and FC Schalke 04—head into the 2026-27 Bundesliga as the clearest relegation candidates, with pre-season assessments highlighting their lower squad market values and limited top-flight experience compared to the rest of the 18-team field. Elversberg and Paderborn sit at the bottom of most squad-value rankings and face the steepest adaptation challenge in their first (or recent return) seasons, while Schalke’s greater resources offer slightly better survival odds but still place the club in the lower tier of projections. Mid-table sides such as 1. FC Köln, Hamburger SV, FC Augsburg, and 1. FC Union Berlin also appear in broader relegation discussions due to squad transitions and inconsistent recent campaigns. The standard format—automatic drop for 17th and 18th plus a two-legged playoff for 16th—means early results and injury management will quickly shape the battle.