VfL Wolfsburg travelled to the Weser-Stadion this Sunday, claiming all three points and building a two-point lead over seventh-place TSG Hoffenheim. Bundesliga giants Werder Bremen now sit in 17th place, an automatic relegation position, three points behind 16th place Fortuna Düsseldorf. The 2004 Bundesliga champions have not been relegated since 1980. The club has four remaining matches to fight for survival.
The Bundesliga Relegation Battle Is Narrowing After Werder Bremen Loss
Werder Bremen’s Remaining Fixtures are Tricky
Florian Kohfeldt’s men have what could be a relegation decider next Saturday against last-place SC Paderborn. Paderborn trail Bremen by five points after yesterday’s shock draw against RB Leipzig. Bayern Munich are next, followed by another bottom-of-the-table clash against 15th place Mainz, who hold a six-point lead over Bremen. The side’s final fixture is against another lower table side, 12th place 1. FC. Köln. Bremen need to claim at least four points to have any hope of avoiding automatic relegation.
Fortuna Düsseldorf’s Schedule is Equally Difficult
Düsseldorf lead Bremen by three points, but Dortmund and Leipzig are their next opponents, two sides looking to guarantee automatic Champions League qualification. The side’s final two fixtures are against 14th place Augsburg and 13th place 1. FC Union Berlin.
Werder Bremen’s Relegation Scrap Is out of Their Hands
Bremen’s Bundesliga survival hinges on Düsseldorf dropping at least three points, a strong possibility. Bremen also trail Düsseldorf by three in goal difference, meaning that the former will most likely need at least four more points. It is unlikely, however, that Düsseldorf will come away empty-handed against both Augsburg, Union, and maybe even serial drawers Leipzig, meaning Kohfeldt’s men could require five or six points.
The relegation battle will most likely come down to the final day. The playoff itself will be anything but a formality, as the Bundesliga side will likely face German giants Hamburger SV or VfB Stuttgart. Werder Bremen, the winners of the 2004 domestic double, are in an uphill battle to avoid automatic relegation.
Main Photo
