das  Rückspiel

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʁʏkˌʃpiːl/

⚽ What exactly is a Rückspiel?

The German word das Rückspiel (neuter noun, plural: die Rückspiele) refers to the second match or return leg between two teams or individual players in a competition decided over two games (a so-called Hin- und Rückspiel system). The result of the Rückspiel is combined with the result of the Hinspiel (first leg) to determine the overall winner (e.g., by aggregating goals or points).

So, it's the game that 'comes back' (zurück), often played at the venue of the team that played away in the Hinspiel.

⚠️ Caution: Not every second encounter is automatically a Rückspiel in the technical sense. It specifically refers to competition formats with a home and away leg whose results are directly aggregated.

🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Das Rückspiel

The noun "Rückspiel" is neuter. The article is das. Its declension is as follows:

Example Sentences:

1. Das Rückspiel findet nächste Woche in München statt.
   (The return match takes place next week in Munich.)
2. Wir haben das Hinspiel verloren, aber im Rückspiel können wir noch alles drehen!
   (We lost the first leg, but we can still turn everything around in the return match!)
3. Die Fans warten gespannt auf die Ergebnisse der Rückspiele im Pokal.
   (The fans are eagerly awaiting the results of the return matches in the cup.)
4. Nach dem spannenden Rückspiel stand der Sieger endlich fest.
   (After the exciting return match, the winner was finally determined.)

🗣️ When to use Rückspiel?

The term "Rückspiel" is used almost exclusively in the context of sports competitions, especially in tournaments or qualification rounds that are decided over two matches (knockout system with a Hinspiel and Rückspiel).

• Typical sports: Football (Champions League, cup competitions), handball, basketball, ice hockey, etc.
• Counterpart: Das Hinspiel (the first of the two matches).
• Compound words: You often find the word in compounds like Pokalrückspiel (cup return match), Champions-League-Rückspiel (Champions League return match), or Relegationsrückspiel (relegation play-off return match).
• Figurative meaning: Very rarely and rather colloquially, "Rückspiel" might be used metaphorically for a second chance or an opportunity for revenge in other areas of life, but this is uncommon.

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

For the article (das): Think of the neutral concept of 'the game' itself - das Spiel. A Rückspiel is still a game, so it stays neutral: das Rückspiel.

For the meaning: The game comes back (zurück) to the other venue. It's the game that 'plays back' or brings back the decision: the Rück-Spiel (return game).

🔁 Similar and Opposite Terms

Don't confuse "Rückspiel" with a simple replay (Wiederholungsspiel - e.g., after a draw in some old cup formats) or a normal league game in the second half of a season (Rückrunde - although technically also a 'second game', it's usually not called a 'Rückspiel' in the sense of result aggregation).

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Trainer seine Mannschaft vor dem Rückspiel: "Okay Jungs, wir haben das Hinspiel 0:5 verloren. Mein Plan für das Rückspiel ist folgender: Wir spielen die erste Halbzeit unentschieden und gewinnen die zweite!"

Translation: The coach asks his team before the return match: "Okay guys, we lost the first leg 0-5. My plan for the return match is as follows: We'll draw the first half and win the second!"

🎤 Return Match Rap

Das Hinspiel war knapp, die Spannung war groß,
Jetzt kommt die Revanche, jetzt geht es richtig los.
Das Rückspiel entscheidet, wer weiterzieht,
Auf heimischem Rasen, ein neues Lied.
Die Fans sind am Toben, die Flaggen weh'n,
Im Rückspiel wird man den Sieger seh'n!

Translation:
The first leg was close, the tension was high,
Now comes the rematch, now it really takes off.
The return match decides who moves on,
On home turf, a new song.
The fans are roaring, the flags are waving,
In the return match, the winner will be seen!

❓ Little Riddle

Ich bin die zweite Chance im Sport,
finde meist an einem anderen Ort.
Mein Ergebnis zählt zum ersten hinzu,
wer am Ende jubelt, entscheid oft ich im Nu.

Was bin ich?

Translation:
I am the second chance in sports,
Usually found in a different place.
My result is added to the first,
Who rejoices in the end, I often decide in a jiffy.

What am I?

Solution: das Rückspiel (the return match)

💡 More Tidbits

Word Composition

The word "Rückspiel" is a compound noun, composed of:

• Rück- : Prefixoid derived from the adverb/preposition "zurück" (back), here meaning 'second', 'returning'.
• Spiel : The base word, meaning game or match here.

Trivia

Some of the most dramatic moments in sports history have occurred in Rückspiele, often involving late goals that turned the aggregate score around. These matches are often remembered for a long time.