There are still ten match days left in the Bundesliga – and five teams are fighting for three Champions League places. The sports show check with a look at the starting position, load and remaining program.
If VfB Stuttgart actually has motivation problems in the fight for the top 4 in the Bundesliga, the outstanding dates this season should be a great incentive. Because coach Sebastian Hoeneß’s team not only belongs to the top group in the league and is in the semi-finals of the DFB Cup (against SC Freiburg), but is also performing in the Europa League, the VfB calendar could be even tighter than it already is.
If Stuttgart survives internationally in the round of 16 against FC Porto, the Swabians would have to play three extremely important games within six days. The second leg of the quarter-finals of the Europa League would take place on April 16th, VfB has to face FC Bayern Munich in the league on April 19th and the cup semi-finals, which have not yet been scheduled, will take place on April 21st or 22nd.
VfB Stuttgart is the most frequent player in the Bundesliga
Stuttgart or Munich – one of the two clubs will only have around 49 hours between the final whistle of the direct duel and the start of the battle for the final in Berlin. However, the situation is a little more comfortable for the record champions, because as a Champions League participant the break before the top league game would be longer. The premier class is also more lucrative than the Europa League in terms of scheduling.
Especially when, like Stuttgart, you have played the most in the Bundesliga with 39 competitive games and are already struggling for every day off. But VfB now has the chance to play in the concert of the big players again next season. The Hoeneß team is currently in fourth place, which is the minimum it needs if the Bundesliga does not secure a fifth Champions League starting place internationally.
However, VfB (46 points) has two immediate pursuers with RB Leipzig (44 points) and Bayer Leverkusen (43) ten game days before the end of the season. Before that, TSG Hoffenheim (46) and perhaps Borussia Dortmund (52) are also in the middle of the fight for the top quartet in the league.
Champions League offers direct and indirect values
However, the somewhat friendlier schedule is still the smallest incentive to give everything to get into the Champions League. The 18.62 million euros entry fee is welcome at every club, the high bonuses offer even more potential. Above all, it is the duels against the biggest European clubs that make it so much more interesting for the professionals themselves and that also excite the spectators. The side effect: market values rise significantly better in the premier class.
The arguments are on the table, now the question is which three of these five teams will get the Champions League anthem played next season? The form is reasonable for all teams, with the win at Hamburger SV (1-0) Leverkusen has put themselves in a better situation again, both in the short term and with a view to the entire season. A weakness could only be identified with BVB, after they recently lost against FC Bayern (2:3) and before that at Atalanta Bergamo (1:4).
Only two clubs have more than ten games left
Basically, the form speaks neither for a club nor against one. The issue of multiple stress could become more important, especially in the final spurt, where Dortmund, Hoffenheim and Leipzig have an advantage because they can concentrate completely on the last ten Bundesliga games. Leverkusen will play the cup semi-finals against Bayern and will also be in the Champions League and will face Arsenal in the round of 16. And Stuttgart also has triple the burden.
For VfB and the “Werkself” up to the 34th matchday it will also be a question of strength and the rotation that the two coaches have to carry out and which always poses dangers. The competitions must be weighted and it must be answered when the teams are most likely to be without the players who matter in the most important games.
Heaviness Bundesliga opponents for VfB Stuttgart
There are a lot of them outstanding. There are still eight direct duels within the pentathlon for the Champions League. If you look at them, Stuttgart has the advantage of playing at home in three out of four games against the competition. The other teams have three premier league games, Hoffenheim has two home games, the other three teams only one.
| Matchday | pairing | Appointment |
|---|---|---|
26 | VfB Stuttgart – RB Leipzig | Sun., March 15, 7:30 p.m |
27 | RB Leipzig – TSG Hoffenheim | Fri, March 20, 8:30 p.m |
28 | VfB Stuttgart – Bor. Dortmund | Saturday, April 4th, 6:30 p.m |
29 | Bor. Dortmund – Bay. Leverkusen | Sat., April 11th, 3:30 p.m |
30 | TSG Hoffenheim – Bor. Dortmund | Saturday, April 18th, 3:30 p.m |
32 | Bay. Leverkusen – RB Leipzig | 01.-03.05. (not scheduled) |
32 | TSG Hoffenheim – VfB Stuttgart | 01.-03.05. (not scheduled) |
33 | VfB Stuttgart – Bay. Leverkusen | 08.-10.05. (not scheduled) |
Exciting: BVB has three Champions League duels in a row from matchday 28 to 30. And on the 32nd matchday there will be two clashes between top 4 contenders with Leverkusen against Leipzig and Hoffenheim against Stuttgart on a weekend shortly before the end of the season.
Hoffenheim’s Tim Lemperle (l.) in a duel with Leverkusen’s Ernest Poku
For Stuttgart, the direct duels represent an opportunity and a risk at the same time. Overall, the VfB calendar speaks against the Hoeneß team not only in terms of quantity, but also in terms of quality. In the Bundesliga, the Swabians have the toughest remaining program, with their remaining opponents on average in 7.4th place (current rankings added divided by ten). The remaining program of Leverkusen (8.8), that of BVB (8.9) and that of Leipzig (9.0) follow at a distance. Hoffenheim supposedly has it easiest (10.8).
The favorites: BVB, Hoffenheim – and Leipzig
From a purely statistical perspective, there is a lot to suggest that Dortmund and Hoffenheim will make it. BVB’s cushion is large and otherwise there is little to suggest that coach Niko Kovac’s team could make a difference. TSG has no additional burden and a comfortable remaining program, as well as a strong starting position as third in the table. That still leaves the fight for fourth place.
The game plan and the lower workload during the entire season at Leipzig could be the decisive arguments. However, coach Ole Werner’s players have appeared shaky since the start, despite the pure Bundesliga focus. The facts still speak for RB in fourth place, Stuttgart and Leverkusen would then have to hope that the international representatives could still get fifth place for the Champions League qualification. But despite all the theory: the truth is there.
