By Rich M.
Freiburg’s hopes of a top-4 finish were renewed on Friday with a 2:0 win over visitors VfL Wolfsburg. Both Nils Petersen and Christian Günter scored just moments after coming off the bench, and Günter’s goal was his first of the season. The loss also damaged Wolfsburg’s hopes of European competition, leaving the club tied on points with Leverkusen, who will host nearby Gladbach on Sunday. The big questions dominating competition this weekend are those involving the league championship and relegation, so let’s take a look at some of the possibilities. Bayern have the possibility of securing the championship this weekend, but only if they beat RB Leipzig on Saturday and Borussia Dortmund lose to Augsburg on Sunday. Should Bayern win and Dortmund merely draw, Bayern will also almost certainly become champions, as Dortmund would otherwise need to win on Matchday 34, have Bayern lose on the same day, and have both matches end in such a way to create a 20-goal swing in the goal differential. Both clubs are already guaranteed a top-4 finish and spots in the next season’s Champions League group stage. Leipzig can also secure a spot in the top 4 this weekend if they win at Bayern. The remaining clubs competing for spots in the top 4 are Union Berlin and Freiburg, but that will not be decided until the final matchday. As things stand, the team that finishes fifth in the league will qualify for the Europa League group stage, with sixth place earning a spot in the Europa Conference League play-offs. Leipzig, Union Berlin, and Freiburg are all certain to finish no lower than fifth, but no club will be able to secure sixth place this weekend. Seventh place could also provide a spot in the Europa Conference League play-offs, should a team that has already qualified for Europe win the DFB Pokal. With Leipzig and Frankfurt contesting the Pokal final, that is a possible scenario, and Wolfsburg, Leverkusen, and Frankfurt are all in contention for seventh place. At the bottom of the table, 4 clubs each have a chance to secure safety this weekend: Bremen, Augsburg, Hoffenheim, and Bochum. Two clubs could be relegated this weekend: Stuttgart if they lose to Mainz, Schalke and Bochum win, and Hoffenheim don’t lose; and Hertha if they fail to defeat Bochum, if Bochum get at least a draw and Stuttgart or Schalke win, or if Stuttgart and Schalke both win. One other thing we do know is this: SV Darmstadt 98 will be in the 1. Bundesliga next season, having secured promotion on Friday, thanks to a 1:0 home win over 1. FC Magdeburg.
Freiburg’s hopes of a top-4 finish were renewed on Friday with a 2:0 win over visitors VfL Wolfsburg. Both Nils Petersen and Christian Günter scored just moments after coming off the bench, and Günter’s goal was his first of the season. The loss also damaged Wolfsburg’s hopes of European competition, leaving the club tied on points with Leverkusen, who will host nearby Gladbach on Sunday. The big questions dominating competition this weekend are those involving the league championship and relegation, so let’s take a look at some of the possibilities. Bayern have the possibility of securing the championship this weekend, but only if they beat RB Leipzig on Saturday and Borussia Dortmund lose to Augsburg on Sunday. Should Bayern win and Dortmund merely draw, Bayern will also almost certainly become champions, as Dortmund would otherwise need to win on Matchday 34, have Bayern lose on the same day, and have both matches end in such a way to create a 20-goal swing in the goal differential. Both clubs are already guaranteed a top-4 finish and spots in the next season’s Champions League group stage. Leipzig can also secure a spot in the top 4 this weekend if they win at Bayern. The remaining clubs competing for spots in the top 4 are Union Berlin and Freiburg, but that will not be decided until the final matchday. As things stand, the team that finishes fifth in the league will qualify for the Europa League group stage, with sixth place earning a spot in the Europa Conference League play-offs. Leipzig, Union Berlin, and Freiburg are all certain to finish no lower than fifth, but no club will be able to secure sixth place this weekend. Seventh place could also provide a spot in the Europa Conference League play-offs, should a team that has already qualified for Europe win the DFB Pokal. With Leipzig and Frankfurt contesting the Pokal final, that is a possible scenario, and Wolfsburg, Leverkusen, and Frankfurt are all in contention for seventh place. At the bottom of the table, 4 clubs each have a chance to secure safety this weekend: Bremen, Augsburg, Hoffenheim, and Bochum. Two clubs could be relegated this weekend: Stuttgart if they lose to Mainz, Schalke and Bochum win, and Hoffenheim don’t lose; and Hertha if they fail to defeat Bochum, if Bochum get at least a draw and Stuttgart or Schalke win, or if Stuttgart and Schalke both win. One other thing we do know is this: SV Darmstadt 98 will be in the 1. Bundesliga next season, having secured promotion on Friday, thanks to a 1:0 home win over 1. FC Magdeburg.
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