Bayer Leverkusen may have wrapped up the Bundesliga title in early April, ending Bayern Munich’s 11-year monopoly, but there’s still plenty to play for on the final matchday.
As if Stuttgart aren’t already having an incredible season with Sebastian Hoeneß taking the Swabian club to Champions League football for the first time since 2010, but they could yet finish above Bayern Munich. Should Stuttgart beat Borussia Mönchengladbach and Bayern Munich lose against Hoffenheim, VfB will clinch second place.
The European places
Because Borussia Dortmund beat Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, the Bundesliga receives a fifth spot for next season’s competition. Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Stuttgart, RB Leipzig and Dortmund will all be playing in the premier competition.
However, Europa League and the Europa League Conference is yet to be decided. Eintracht Frankfurt, who sit sixth, will secure a Europa League place if they gain a point or more against RB Leipzig, or Hoffenheim fail to beat Bayern Munich. Alternatively, if Eintracht lose, Hoffenheim have to overturn a three-goal difference.
If Hoffenheim beat Bayern Munich and Eintracht lost to Leipzig with a three-goal swing, TSG will secure sixth.
As for the Europa Conference League, Freiburg can finish seventh if they beat Union Berlin and Bayern Munich fail to beat Bayern Munich. Even more exciting, if Bayer Leverkusen with the DFB Pokal against Kaiserslautern, seventh place now becomes a Europa League spot with the team in eighth going into the Europa Conference League.
If Borussia Dortmund win the Champions League, places one to six will play in next season’s competition with the team in seventh qualifying for the Europa League and eighth place in the Conference League. That of course means Heidenheim (9th), Augsburg (10th) and Werder Bremen (11th) could yet play European football next season.
The relegation battle
And just as exciting as the fight for the European places, is the relegation battle. Darmstadt are already relegated after just one season but after FC Köln secured a stoppage time win over Union Berlin last weekend, the Billy Goats could yet finish 16th, a place in the relegation playoff.
For that to happen, Köln have to beat Heidenheim and hope Union Berlin lost to Freiburg with a swing of four goals. If Union avoid defeat against Freiburg or Köln fail to beat Heidenheim, they will finish in the relegation playoff.
Bochum (14th) and Mainz (15th) can no longer be automatically relegated, but can finish in the playoff. If Bochum avoid defeat against Werder Bremen, Mainz lose at Wolfsburg or Union fail to beat Freiburg, their Bundesliga status is guaranteed.
As for Mainz, if they win in Wolfsburg or draw and Union fail to win by 12 goals, or if they draw and Bochum lose or Union fail to beat Freiburg, they will stay up.
If Union beat Freiburg and Mainz or Bochum lose, they will also stay up.
