The championship has long since been decided, the direct relegations have been determined: Before the last Bundesliga matchday, the fight for the entry into the lucrative Champions League.
“This is extremely annoying because we wanted to win today. We play a very, very good season and now we’re going into the final against Freiburg”said Frankfurt’s sports director Markus Krösche and was fully served after the surprising 2-2 against FC St. Pauli.
“Final game” between Freiburg and Frankfurt
For a long time it looked as if the Hesse easily moved into the Champions League, now they have to tremble. On the last matchday (Saturday, May 17th, 3:30 p.m.), the schedule wants it that way, you have to go to Freiburg. In a victory of the Freiburg (55 points) they would jump past the Eintracht (57 points) in third place. If things go very badly for the Frankfurters, they are also overtaken by Borussia Dortmund (54 points). In terms of goal difference, the Hesse are only three goals better than BVB.
All of this also applies to Freiburg. A defeat or a draw against Frankfurt and a Dortmund victory against Kiel mean fifth place.
The momentum speaks for Dortmund
Dortmund ends up when you lose against Kiel or Freiburg wins the “final” against Frankfurt and BVB cannot catch up with the poorer goal difference compared to Eintracht. In a tie against Kiel and a Freiburg defeat, the black and yellow would jump to fourth place. The goal difference would also be crucial there, in which the Freiburgers look bad with -2.
| Place | team | Points and goals | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
3 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 57/+20 | SC Freiburg (A) |
4 | SC Freiburg | 55/-2 | Eintracht Frankfurt (H) |
5 | Borussia Dortmund | 54/+17 | Holstein Kiel (H) |
6 | 1. FSV Mainz 05 | 51/+12 | Bayer Leverkusen (H) |
7 | RB Leipzig | 51/+6 | VfB Stuttgart (H) |
There is a lot to be said for Dortmund in the showdown. Above all, the current form of the team of coach Niko Kovac, which has been paving the field from behind for weeks and has been caught up. A victory with three goals difference definitely leads to the premier class, so Dortmund also has his own “final” against Kiel.
The scenarios at an overview
Frankfurt comes to the Champions League when …
… win you against Freiburg or play draws
… lose them against Freiburg and do not win Dortmund or no three goals compared to Frankfurt
Freiburg comes to the Champions League when …
… you win against Frankfurt
… they play against frankfurt and not win Dortmund
… lose them against Frankfurt and loses Dortmund
Dortmund comes to the Champions League when …
… win against Kiel with three goals
… you win against Kiel and Freiburg against Frankfurt Remis ends or Frankfurt wins
… they win against Kiel with two goals and loses Frankfurt with a goal against Freiburg, but scores less than four goals than the BVB
… get a point against Kiel and lose Freiburg against Frankfurt
Europa League as a consolation plaster
Anyone whoever has the three -way battle for the two still open tickets – Master Bayern Munich and runner -up Bayer Leverkusen are already losing – can or must comfort himself as fifth by moving into the Europa League.
The 1st FSV Mainz 05 is also fighting for him. But that only works against Kiel in a home win against Bayer Leverkusen and a Dortmund. And the Mainz would also have to catch up with the poorer goal difference (-5 compared to BVB).
Mainz and Leipzig in the remote duel for sixth place
For Mainz, it is probably only enough for the Conference League. If any. Because the 05s have the same same RB Leipzig on the back of the neck and deliver a remote duel with the Saxons. The opponents have it all. Mainz has to go against Leverkusen, Leipzig expects Stuttgart.
Heidenheim before the relegation
The relegation battle, on the other hand, has been decided. It caught VfL Bochum and Holstein Kiel. Much suggests that the 1. FC Heidenheim must – or may. The team is three points behind 1899 Hoffenheim and FC St. Pauli and it has the worst goal difference compared to the two competitors. Heidenheim would have to catch up six goals opposite Hoffenheim, compared to St. Pauli even 13.
Blessin: “The devil is a squirrel”
However, Hamburg’s coach Alexander Blessin does not trust the roast. “I still don’t accept the congratulations”he said after the important 2-2 at Eintracht Frankfurt. He speaks of one “Big Point” and one “Pad”however, also said: “But the devil is a squirrel.”
St. Pauli’s coach Alexander Blessin
In the season finale, St. Pauli plays against relegated VfL Bochum and also wants to score there. Because Blessin is “Felsenfest” convinced “That Heidenheim wins the game against Bremen.”
Hoffenheim’s fear of Bavaria
If so, the Heidenheimers could at best bring Hoffenheim to the bredouille. They have to go against Bayern Munich and hope that the master will not present themselves too enthusiastically and hungry.
| Place | team | Points and goals | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
14 | FC St. Pauli | 32/-11 | VfL Bochum (H) |
15 | 1899 Hoffenheim | 32/-18 | Bayern Munich (H) |
16 | 1. FC Heidenheim | 29/-24 | Werder Bremen (H) |