{"id":553844,"date":"2020-06-15T13:04:10","date_gmt":"2020-06-15T17:04:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=553844"},"modified":"2021-03-09T21:13:42","modified_gmt":"2021-03-10T02:13:42","slug":"sv-werder-bremen-fortuna-dusseldorf-and-mainz-05-locked-in-bundesliga-relegation-battle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/06\/15\/sv-werder-bremen-fortuna-dusseldorf-and-mainz-05-locked-in-bundesliga-relegation-battle\/","title":{"rendered":"SV Werder Bremen, Fortuna D\u00fcsseldorf, and Mainz 05 Locked in Bundesliga Relegation Battle"},"content":{"rendered":"

This weekend\u2019s round of Bundesliga fixtures saw the relegation battle narrow to three clubs. <\/span><\/p>\n

Last place SC Paderborn are not yet mathematically out of contention, but the newly-promoted side trail 17th place Werder Bremen by eight points with three matches to play. Bremen and D\u00fcsseldorf both have 28 points, while 15th place Mainz have 31. Additionally, 1. FC Union Berlin, 1. FC K\u00f6ln and Augsburg are not mathematically safe, but they all sit on 35 points, a seven-point gap over the bottom three.<\/span><\/p>\n

SV Werder Bremen, Fortuna D\u00fcsseldorf, and Mainz 05 Locked in Bundesliga Relegation Battle\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

SV Werder Bremen: Automatic Relegation (17th Place, 28 Points)<\/span><\/h3>\n

By far the biggest club in this relegation battle, Bremen have not been relegated since 1980<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Saturday, the 2004 Bundesliga champions beat Paderborn by five goals to one, a massive step towards avoiding the drop. Bremen take on Bayern Munich tomorrow night, a match where the <\/span>Rekord Meister<\/span><\/i> can secure their eighth straight title. <\/span><\/p>\n

This difficult fixture is followed up by a massive six-pointer, and possible relegation decider at Mainz\u2019s <\/span>Opel Arena<\/span>. Florian Kohfeldt<\/a>\u2019s men face 1. FC K\u00f6ln on the final matchday. K\u00f6ln are not mathematically safe, but it is the easiest match of the last three.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fortuna D\u00fcsseldorf: Relegation Playoff Spot (16th Place, 28 Points)<\/span><\/h3>\n

The <\/span>Fortunen <\/span><\/i>were seconds away from a priceless point against Borussia Dortmund until Erling Haaland\u2019s header ruined the day. <\/span><\/p>\n

On paper, D\u00fcsseldorf have a tricky fixture list. They take on RB Leipzig this Wednesday, who are looking to confirm top-four status. Next is 13th place Augsburg, followed by 14th place 1. FC Union Berlin. Augsburg and Union are not mathematically safe, the two sit on 35 points, meaning that both matches will be hard-fought, relegation scraps.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mainz 04: Safe (15th Place, 31 Points)<\/span><\/h3>\n

J\u00fcrgen Klopp<\/a>\u2019s former side have by far the most difficult schedule of the three sides. On Wednesday, Mainz travel to Dortmund\u2019s <\/span>Signal-Iduna Park<\/span><\/i>, followed by the aforementioned Bremen on Saturday, and Bayer Leverkusen on the league\u2019s final matchday. <\/span><\/p>\n

Leverkusen are in fourth, just one point above fifth-place Borussia M\u00f6nchengladbach. Champions League football will be on the line. Based on Mainz’s current form, five points from the last six matches, it would not be surprising if just one point is accrued from the final three fixtures.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Relegation\/Promotion Playoff Will Not Be a Formality<\/span><\/h3>\n

With three matches left in the 2. Bundesliga, just one point separates second place Hamburger SV from third place VfB Stuttgart<\/a>, two massive <\/span>Traditionsvereine<\/span><\/i>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Both have two of the most expensive 2. Bundesliga squads in history. The third-place side will face the 17th place Bundesliga side, currently Fortuna D\u00fcsseldorf. A Werder Bremen, Hamburg playoff would see a <\/span>Nordderby <\/span><\/i>for the ages. The two clubs are the biggest in northern Germany, and their rivalry<\/a> goes back to 1927.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Bundesliga Relegation Battle Will Be Close<\/span><\/h3>\n

Based on current form, Werder Bremen have the best chance of avoiding both automatic relegation and the playoff. <\/span><\/p>\n

Since the restart, the side has accrued ten points from seven. Comparably, D\u00fcsseldorf have six points from six and Mainz have five points from six. <\/span><\/p>\n

Each club has a difficult schedule in its own right, and as things currently stand, no one is facing a side with nothing to play for. The Bremen-Mainz match on Saturday could very well be the deciding fixture.<\/span><\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>