This Saturday, all nine Bundesliga fixtures will be played simultaneously on the final day. While the majority of clubs have nothing to play for, there are three accolades still up for grabs. Bayern Munich have won the title and SC Paderborn will finish bottom. In between, the final Champions League spot, automatic Europa League qualification, and a place in the relegation/promotion playoff will all be decided on the Bundesliga final day.
Bundesliga Final Day: What’s At Stake
The Final Champions League Spot
Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have both officially secured top-four status, while RB Leipzig are all-but-guaranteed third. Julian Nagelsmann’s side have 63 points, fourth place Borussia Mönchengladbach have 62 points, and Bayer Leverkusen sit fifth, having accrued 60 points. Leipzig could theoretically drop into fifth with a loss alongside wins from both Gladbach and Leverkusen, but they hold a significant lead over both in goal difference.
The real fight is between Gladbach and Leverkusen. Die Fohlen take on Hertha BSC at home. The two sides met in December, playing out a goalless draw. The Berliners, however, have nothing to play for, as both relegation and Europa League qualification are now unattainable. A victory will guarantee fourth place to Gladbach. A draw will most likely work too, as Marco Rose‘s men have a nine-point advantage over Leverkusen in goal difference.
Peter Bosz’s side are playing Mainz 05. The latter secured safety after beating Werder Bremen last week. To finish fourth, Leverkusen must win and hope for a Gladbach loss. If Gladbach draw, Die Werkself will have to put more than ten goals past Mainz. Leverkusen lost to Hertha last week, and they will be hoping that the west Berliners win again.
Automatic Europa League Qualification
Leverkusen currently hold the first Europa League spot, but trailing them by more than ten points are VfL Wolfsburg and TSG Hoffenheim. Sixth place means automatic qualification to the Europa League, while the seventh-placed side must compete in a two-legged playoff.
Both clubs have 49 points, but Wolfsburg hold a ten-point advantage in goal difference. This could prove pivotal, as the two are underdogs in their matches on the Bundesliga final day. Hoffenheim travel to Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park, while Wolfsburg welcome Bayern to the Volkswagen Arena. Usually, both Dortmund and Bayern would be favourites, but neither side has anything to play for.
Avoiding Automatic Relegation
SC Paderborn are guaranteed to finish bottom and Mainz 05 have secured Bundesliga safety. This leaves Fortuna Düsseldorf and SV Werder Bremen to fight over 16th place, the playoff spot. Düsseldorf currently hold that position, leading 17th placed Bremen by two points.
Both will face lower table sides with nothing to play for on the Bundesliga final day. Fortuna take on 1. FC Union Berlin, while Bremen welcome 1. FC Köln to the Weser Stadion. Bremen can avoid their first relegation since 1980 with a victory and a Düsseldorf loss. If Fortuna draw, Bremen will have to win by a significant margin to erase a four-point goal difference deficit. Either way, the winner of this race will not be safe from relegation, most likely facing 1. FC Heidenheim in the playoff.
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