diff --git a/frontend/src/components/MatchCard.module.css b/frontend/src/components/MatchCard.module.css
index 246acb5..c8b5b3c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/MatchCard.module.css
+++ b/frontend/src/components/MatchCard.module.css
@@ -48,23 +48,26 @@
 }
 
 
-.badge, .badgeUrgent {
+/* Countdown — left-aligned row */
+.countdownRow {
+  display: flex;
+  margin-bottom: 4px;
+}
+
+.countdownBadge {
   font-size: 11px;
   font-weight: 700;
   padding: 3px 9px;
   border-radius: 20px;
-  margin-left: auto;
-}
-
-.badge {
   background: var(--surface-high);
   color: var(--text-secondary);
 }
 
-.badgeUrgent {
+.countdownUrgent {
   background: rgba(254,174,50,0.12);
   color: var(--gold);
   border: 1px solid rgba(254,174,50,0.2);
+  animation: pulse 1.5s ease-in-out infinite;
 }
 
 .group {
@@ -95,9 +98,6 @@
     0 0 40px rgba(254, 174, 50, 0.15);
 }
 
-.topRowSpacer {
-  flex: 1;
-}
 
 /* VS separator */
 .vsSeparator {
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/MatchCard.tsx b/frontend/src/components/MatchCard.tsx
index 1491476..1e3885e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/MatchCard.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/MatchCard.tsx
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ export default function MatchCard({ match, onTip }: Props) {
   return (
     <div className={`card ${styles.card} ${styles[`card_${state}`]} ${isLive ? styles.live : ''} ${glowClass}`}>
 
-      {/* Top row: Group + Countdown */}
+      {/* Top row: Status/Group */}
       <div className={styles.topRow}>
         {(isLive || isFinished) && (
           <span className={`${styles.status} ${isLive ? styles.statusLive : ''}`}>
@@ -97,9 +97,19 @@ export default function MatchCard({ match, onTip }: Props) {
             {match.group.replace('GROUP_', 'Gruppe ')}
           </span>
         )}
-        <span className={styles.topRowSpacer} />
-        {(state === 'open' || state === 'tipped') && match.tippable && (
-          <span className={`${styles.badge} ${remainingMins < 60 ? styles.badgeUrgent : ''} ${remainingMins < 5 ? styles.countdownUrgent : ''}`}>
+      </div>
+
+      {/* Kickoff — stadium LED display, centered */}
+      {!isFinished && !isLive && (
+        <div className={styles.kickoffRow}>
+          <span className={styles.kickoffLED}>{formatKickoff(match.utcDate)}</span>
+        </div>
+      )}
+
+      {/* Countdown badge — left-aligned */}
+      {(state === 'open' || state === 'tipped') && match.tippable && (
+        <div className={styles.countdownRow}>
+          <span className={`${styles.countdownBadge} ${remainingMins < 60 ? styles.countdownUrgent : ''}`}>
             {match.minutesUntilKickoff < 60
               ? `Noch ${remainingMins} Min!`
               : (() => {
@@ -110,13 +120,6 @@ export default function MatchCard({ match, onTip }: Props) {
                 })()
             }
           </span>
-        )}
-      </div>
-
-      {/* Kickoff — stadium LED display, centered */}
-      {!isFinished && !isLive && (
-        <div className={styles.kickoffRow}>
-          <span className={styles.kickoffLED}>{formatKickoff(match.utcDate)}</span>
         </div>
       )}