Bundesliga Matchday 34 Preview: Last Chance

One more matchday in the German Bundesliga and in Bundesliga 2. We have our champion (Bayern Munich). We have another definite UEFA Champions League participant (Borussia Dortmund). We have a 99.9999% likely participant (RB Leipzig). We also have one team set to return to Bundesliga 2 (Paderborn), one set to come the other way (Arminia Bielefeld), and a second 99.9% likely to follow (Stuttgart).

Outside of all of those, we have plenty to decide in this Matchday 34. 

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:  The only way that RB Leipzig are not playing Champions League next season is if they fall at FC Augsburg, Borussia Monchengladbach win against Hertha Berlin, and Bayer Leverkusen defeat Mainz with a goal difference swing of at least 28 (we are not calculating in case Gladbach draw). 

It’s really between Gladbach and Leverkusen for the final Champions League spot and it’s advantage Foals after Die Werkself fumbled at Hertha last week. The simplest math is Gladbach get the final spot if they win. A draw will be enough unless Leverkusen win by 10+ goals. Leverkusen’s simplest maths is for them to win and hope Gladbach stumble against Hertha. 

EUROPA LEAGUE:  Fifth and sixth place will go into the group stage while seventh will be in the second qualification round since the DFB Pokal will be contested by teams already assured of European football next season (Bayern and Leverkusen). Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim are battling for that final group stage spot. Right now, it is Wolfsburg’s by goal difference. Realistically, they need to match the result Hoffenheim get at Borussia Dortmund. Wolfsburg are home to Bayern Munich. 

RELEGATION:  Werder Bremen were last relegated in 1980. That will happen again if they fail to defeat FC Köln or if Fortuna Dusseldorf defeat Union Berlin. A draw for Fortuna will likely bee enough barring a huge win for Bremen. The best either can do is 16th which means the relegation playoff against the third place team in Bundesliga 2. 

BUNDESLIGA 2:  The final set of matches will take place on Sunday. Stuttgart will join Arminia Bielefeld in the top flight with a draw at home against Darmstadt. They only way Stuttgart will miss automatic promotion is if they lose and Heidenheim make up a goal difference swing of 12—at Bielefeld. Heidenheim will reach the playoff with a win over the Bundesliga 2 champions. A draw opens the door for Hamburg to get in with a win over Sandhausen. 

Wehen Wiesbaden and Dynamo Dresden are likely relegated barring astronomical occurrences. 

Matchday 34 Fixtures (all matches at 8:30am CT):

VfL Wolfsburg vs. Bayern Munich (FS1)

Borussia Dortmund vs. Hoffenheim (FS2)

Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Hertha Berlin (Fox Soccer Plus)

Bayer Levenkusen vs. Mainz

Eintracht Frankfurt vs. SC Paderborn

Weerden Bremen vs. FC Köln

SC Freiburg vs. Schalke

FC Augsburg vs. RB Leipzig (TUDN)

Union Berlin vs. Fortuna Dusseldorf