Final round of matches have arrived and with all nine matches occurring at once and all but the relegation and Europa League places settled there is still plenty to play for. Lets take a look.
Eintracht Frankfurt has lifted themselves out of the relegation places via their tough attitude in their last few matches earning all nine points from their previous three. Niko Kovac has been able to install his hard nosed and fighter mentality into the squad that he had as a player.
Werder Bremen has been heavily reliant on the ageless Claudio Pizarro. His 14 goals have been the driving force in their pursuit of Bundesliga survival. At this point it is all or nothing for manager Viktor Skrypnyk who knows that to not face a possible relegation playoff or worse, automatic relegation, that a win is necessary to stay alive. This club is anything but ready for a trip to the second division.
Analysis: Werder just recently earned their very first clean sheet of the year. The defense just has yet to show they are capable of keeping the side up and it is on them and the coach for their current situation. Claudio Pizzaro was gassed last week playing in the sun and but with expected rain this could be an asset to Bremen’s survival hopes. Frankfurt and their robust defense has been able to hold off most in the Bundesliga and with a single goal which is possible against this defense and possible return of the fussballgot in Alex Meier the Eagles are in the best position for a result
Prediction: 1-1 Frankfurt as a second half goal places Frankfurt safely in 15th and Bremen in the playoff
Hertha Berlin will be absolutely upset about the previously result at home to Darmstadt where the hopes of the Champions League were ended. Now there is nothing left to play for aside from the Europa League where they could start in the group stage, their first foray into Europe since the 2009-10 Europa League campaign. Qualification to the group stage will ensure that most if not all of the team will look to be looking to stay for the next season to make a run as far as they can in Europe.
Mainz 05 really threw the relegation scrap for a loop with their victory at VfB Stuttgart. There had been few moments of the last few months to smile about if your a fan of the carnival club. After their victory at Bayern Munich they went eight matches with only one win. Their chance to play in more than merely the Europa League was missed but now with three teams all on 49 points two can make the Europa group stage and one in the qualifying stage.
Prediction: Mainz 05 seems to have more energy left 1-0 over the capital club.
Stuttgart is now facing the inevitable. Their run of 10 matches without a win has placed them here and now they are all but relegated there is a slight glimmer of hope to survive the drop. To do so they not only need a win but a big win. Offensively that is possible but defensively that will be a stretch. They need help from Frankfurt to give themselves a possibility of a result that could put them into the relegation playoff.
Wolfsburg has been at the beach and yet they were able to procure a victory last week at home to HSV. Fact is if they were pushing for the European places relegation for Stuttgart would be certain. Since it isn’t its all about making preparations for 2016-17 and how the club moves on from there.
Prediction: 2-0 Stuttgart who throw everything at Wolfsburg, not enough for survival
Bayern Munich will be looking to have a right old party in the final match. Wrapping up their record fourth consecutive Bundesliga title they will have more individual performances as the players will be looking to take on Dortmund in a week’s time in the DFB Pokal Final. At this point all thoughts are on next season and the new manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Hannover 96 already is having players prepare to leave. They have been resilient when there has been nothing to play for which makes one wonder if only they had tried making a performance like this earlier in the season but perhaps it was just folly to appoint Thomas Schaaf. Bright spot is Martin Kind can take full 100% control of the club and should he wish to be he could be the sugar daddy for the club. He’s put in his 20 years so now he wants to play with his toy.
Prediction: 1-0 Bayern.
Bourssia Monchengladbach has all but ensured fourth place will be theirs but they know that so long as they earn a point they are guaranteed of this. It just so happens that the Foals are one of the very worst teams when it comes to playing on the road in the Bundesliga this season.
Darmstadt will be having a party to rival Munich. At preseason all were celebrating a tiny club reaching the Bundesliga but none planned on their survival. Tiny stadium from a bygone era. Not even getting a license for the Bundesliga for next season until stadium improvements are made specifically for media purposes. This is the best feel good story in the Bundesliga this season. Can they do it again?
Prediction: worst road team at the worst home team 3-1 Borussia to ensure Champions League.
Schalke 04 have only themselves to blame but changes are afoot. New renewed sponsor to give them plenty of money but Andre Britenreiter seems to be headed out. No win to ensure the group stage of the Europa League will only confirm so much more that they under performed all season long. This club could be so much better and yet they are not.
Hoffenheim is basking in the fact that they were very far down the table when they made the change form Huub Stevens to Julian Nagelsmann. The season when on from there and there was more than enough about the team in the improvement from the side that they could have some serious aspirations in terms of next season.
Prediction: 1-0 Hoffenheim to bookend the Britenreiter era at Schalke
FC Augsburg will be buzzing. Reaching the knockout stage of the Europa League in their first season was massive. Doing this and surviving the possibility of relegation. For them it tested their resources and they were able to see themselves free of the relegation scrap. Its about preparing for next season.
Hamburg not having to play in the relegation playoff for a third consecutive season must be giving them some solace. They have just fired their sporting director so changes can be expected but this will probably not have an effect on this weekends match.
Prediction: Augsburg 2-0
Bayer Leverkusen made the Champions League and should be preparing signings for the upcoming campaign. Chicharito has been one of the biggest and best signings that have been made in the last few seasons. They could really kick on next season.
For Ingolstadt they made survival look easy. Despite this being their first campaign in the top flight they stayed defensively compact and made life difficult for the opposition. Next season will be just as hard for staying up.
Prediciton: 1-1 draw.
Borussia Dortmund has only the faint hope of catching Bayern. That was without losing to Eintracht Frankfurt last week. For them selling Mats Hummels, the captain, to Bayern for a reported 35 million that will hurt more than losing the title and next weeks cup final. Thomas Tuchel will be hard at work to find new players to bring in to make this side a force when it comes to the Champions League next season.
FC Koln finishing in the top half of the table is quite an accomplishment. Typically this club has had difficulty over the last few seasons in staying up and fending off relegation. Stability seems to be found and they have their key parts wrapped up in long term contracts which should give the club the platform to give the Europa League places a run next season.
Prediction: 2-1 Dortmund
Bundesliga on Fox
With all the action at the same time Fox has on FS2 a multicast which will be switching games constantly to bring all the latest goal attempts and goals as they happen. Something that is quite unique. Fox Soccer Plus has the relegation scrap between Eintracht Frankfurt and Werder Bremen. Fox network has Bayern Munich and Hannover 96.
