By Rich M
Hertha Berlin edged closer to relegation on Friday following a 5:2 loss to hosts 1. FC Köln. Among Köln’s goals were a brace from defender Timo Hübers, who found the net in the 39th and 69th minutes, along with goals from Davie Selke, Ellyes Skhiri, and Denis Huseinbasic. Hertha’s goals were scored by Lucas Tousart and Stevan Jovetic. Köln have scored at least 3 goals in all 6 of their home wins this season, while Hertha have conceded 66 goals, at an average of more than 2 per game, giving them the worst away record in the league. Berlin’s other club in the top flight, Union Berlin, will host Freiburg, in what is sure to be a tense match in the season’s final weeks. The clubs are tied on points in the table, with 56 apiece, and are both chasing maiden qualifications for the UEFA Champions League. Freiburg have, perhaps, a slight edge in the qualification race, as Union Berlin will have to visit Bayern on Matchday 33. Freiburg also won the reverse fixture this season, on Matchday 15, with a resounding 4:1 score. A Union victory, though, would give the capital club their highest-ever points tally in a Bundesliga season. Another competitive match on Saturday is that between hosts Eintracht Frankfurt and nearby visitors 1. FSV Mainz 05. The two clubs are separated by just 2 points in the table, and outgoing Frankfurt coach Oliver Glasner surely wants to stop the club’s 10-match winless streak prior to his departure. As we close in on the last few matchdays of the season, the race for the championship is more competitive than we’ve seen in years. That won’t be decided before Matchday 33 at the earliest. Bayern and Dortmund are now each guaranteed a top-4 finish and a place in next season’s Champions Leauge, and no other club can secure a top-4 place this weekend. As things stand now, the team that finishes 5th in the Bundesliga will qualify for the Europa League group stage, with 6th place earning a spot in the Europa Conference League play-offs. RB Leipzig, Union Berlin, and Freiburg have already guaranteed each at least a top-6 finish. Leipzig can guarantee finishing at least 5th if they avoid defeat against Werder Bremen and if Bayer Leverkusen don’t win at Stuttgart. Union will be certain of finishing 5th if they beat Freiburg and Leverkusen don’t win. Finally, Freiburg will be certain of finishing at least 5th if they beat Union and Leverkusen don’t win. At the other end of the table, of the 7 teams with the worst records, 3 can secure their safety this weekend: Bremen, Augsburg, and Hoffenheim. All 3 teams’ fates this weekend will depend, however, on what happens elsewhere in the league.
Hertha Berlin edged closer to relegation on Friday following a 5:2 loss to hosts 1. FC Köln. Among Köln’s goals were a brace from defender Timo Hübers, who found the net in the 39th and 69th minutes, along with goals from Davie Selke, Ellyes Skhiri, and Denis Huseinbasic. Hertha’s goals were scored by Lucas Tousart and Stevan Jovetic. Köln have scored at least 3 goals in all 6 of their home wins this season, while Hertha have conceded 66 goals, at an average of more than 2 per game, giving them the worst away record in the league. Berlin’s other club in the top flight, Union Berlin, will host Freiburg, in what is sure to be a tense match in the season’s final weeks. The clubs are tied on points in the table, with 56 apiece, and are both chasing maiden qualifications for the UEFA Champions League. Freiburg have, perhaps, a slight edge in the qualification race, as Union Berlin will have to visit Bayern on Matchday 33. Freiburg also won the reverse fixture this season, on Matchday 15, with a resounding 4:1 score. A Union victory, though, would give the capital club their highest-ever points tally in a Bundesliga season. Another competitive match on Saturday is that between hosts Eintracht Frankfurt and nearby visitors 1. FSV Mainz 05. The two clubs are separated by just 2 points in the table, and outgoing Frankfurt coach Oliver Glasner surely wants to stop the club’s 10-match winless streak prior to his departure. As we close in on the last few matchdays of the season, the race for the championship is more competitive than we’ve seen in years. That won’t be decided before Matchday 33 at the earliest. Bayern and Dortmund are now each guaranteed a top-4 finish and a place in next season’s Champions Leauge, and no other club can secure a top-4 place this weekend. As things stand now, the team that finishes 5th in the Bundesliga will qualify for the Europa League group stage, with 6th place earning a spot in the Europa Conference League play-offs. RB Leipzig, Union Berlin, and Freiburg have already guaranteed each at least a top-6 finish. Leipzig can guarantee finishing at least 5th if they avoid defeat against Werder Bremen and if Bayer Leverkusen don’t win at Stuttgart. Union will be certain of finishing 5th if they beat Freiburg and Leverkusen don’t win. Finally, Freiburg will be certain of finishing at least 5th if they beat Union and Leverkusen don’t win. At the other end of the table, of the 7 teams with the worst records, 3 can secure their safety this weekend: Bremen, Augsburg, and Hoffenheim. All 3 teams’ fates this weekend will depend, however, on what happens elsewhere in the league.
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