The 2019 Eliteserien promotion/relegation play-offs were a two‑legged tie that determined the final club to participate in the 2020 season of Norway's top‑flight football league, the Eliteserien. The play‑off system is used annually to decide whether the 14th‑placed team in the Eliteserien retains its place or is replaced by the winner of the 1. divisjon (second tier) play‑off tournament.
Participants
| Team | League (2019 season) | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Start | Eliteserien – 14th place | Directly entered the play‑off as the lowest‑ranked Eliteserien team that avoids automatic relegation |
| Jerv | 1. divisjon – Play‑off winner | Earned the right to contest the promotion/relegation tie by winning the 1. divisjon play‑off, which involved the clubs finishing 3rd to 6th in the second tier |
Format
- Two legs – one match at each club’s home ground.
- Aggregate scoring – the team with the higher total number of goals over both legs secured a place in the next season’s Eliteserien.
- Tie‑breakers – if the aggregate score was level, the away‑goals rule applied; if still level, extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shoot‑out were used.
Match details
| Leg | Date | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| First leg | 28 November 2019 | Jerv Arena, Grimstad | Jerv 2 – 1 Start |
| Second leg | 2 December 2019 | Sør Arena, Kristiansand | Start 1 – 2 Jerv |
Aggregate result: Jerv 4 – 2 Start.
Outcome
- Jerv were promoted to the 2020 Eliteserien, marking their first appearance in the top tier of Norwegian football.
- Start were relegated to the 2020 1. divisjon.
Context
The Norwegian football league system employs a promotion/relegation mechanism in which the two lowest‑placed Eliteserien clubs (15th and 16th) are automatically relegated, while the two highest‑placed teams in the 1. divisjon (1st and 2nd) are automatically promoted. The play‑off between the 14th‑placed Eliteserien club and the 1. divisjon play‑off winner provides a final opportunity for movement between the divisions each season. The 2019 edition followed this established format.
