With relegation staring some rather large teams down it is time to preview the second to last matchday in the 2015-16 Bundesliga season.
Each and every match will be played simultaneously giving a dramatic twist to how events unfold as the year draws to a close.
Werder Bremen have been single handed saved from their own poor situation via the goals from Claudio Pizarro. The 37 year old has be the go to guy all season and with a match against FC Koln it will be down to him to be able to break the Goats defense and score the winner.
FC Koln will be thinking about what could’ve been. The last time the squad finished higher than seventh place was in the 1991-92 season and there was a chance of making seventh and the Europa League until a 0-0 draw last week with Augsburg.
Prediction: Bremen gets the 2-1 win and puts relegation scares behind them.
Borussia Dortmund has really only one match where anything is on the line. To win the Bundesliga Bayern would need to pick up no more than one point from the next two matches and Thomas Tuchel’s squad would need to earn all six of the remaining points. Tall order and really unlikely. That being said an under-strength squad will probably be trusted to earn the points here.
Eintracht Frankfurt has passed the two derby gauntlet with six points. the Auf Jetzet campaign seems to be working. The squad is getting scrappy goals and earning the points in doing so. Currently in the playoff place this final home match is so crucial that the Bundesliga lives are at risk. Points needed and no half assing.
Prediciton:1-1 draw as a second team of Dortmund isnt good enough for three points against a desperate Frankfurt
Bayern Munich is probably still devastated over the away goals loss to Atletico Madrid but the thought of being able to win the Bundesliga on the road in Ingolstadt in Bavaria still works. A third strength squad will be able to get the needed two points to ensure another championship.
Ingolstadt is in turmoil and it is to really ruin 16-17 season. They are currently more than safe but with Hasenhuttel looking to jump ship they need to start to think about the future and really fast.
Prediciton:2-1 Bayern for another title
Hertha Berlin has really struggled recently. Zero wins from their last six matches and suddenly the Europa League seems more certain than the Champions League. It was bound to happen but it would seem that there are long odds on them besting Borussia Monchengladbach in the final two matchdays. Starts here.
Darmstadt is in trouble. Falling to Frankfurt at home 2-1 hurts and the fact that they are looking at two huge matches against teams fighting for the Champions League means they need all the luck from outside that they can get. Question is whether this tough band can do it.
Prediction:3-1 Hertha as Darmstadt continues to fall
Hannover 96 has a plan for their future in the second division. It is with former youth coach Daniel Stendel. Probably the right choice as he knows all the good players within the youth setup in the Lower Saxony side and will eventually build a team that will rise from the ashes. Or so the Reds fans will fantasize.
Hoffenheim is pretty much assured of safety. If they had tossed Marcus Gizdol out earlier for Julian Nagelsmann then perhaps they would currently be contesting for a place in the Europa League. Shame but thanks to Hubb Stevens that never materialized. Now its planning for the next season and the fun that it will provide.
Prediction: 2-2 as Hannover has fight despite them already being relegated
Stuttgart was embarrassed on Monday by Bremen. It is really hard not to be when you lose 6-2 in a relegation six pointer. The final opportunities are before them to escape the drop. With a struggling Mainz perhaps they can outscore the opposition but it is a tall order.
Mainz 05 has been anything but good. Since defeating Bayern on the road in March the club has been in a free fall. Europa League beckons when the plum of the Champions League was there for the taking and it would seem that they will provide an easy target for a relegation threatened team.
Prediction: 2-2 as Stuttgart earns a very valuable point
Hamburg fans will be happy to have survived the possibility of relegation after two consecutive seasons playing the relegation playoff. But for them merely ending on a high note will be good enough as they face Wolfsburg. The possibility to hang their hat on a full sweep of the Northern clubs isnt something to underestimate.
Wolfsburg was at the beach three weeks ago. Only new coming from them is that club captain Naldo will be out at years end since they will not be making Europe next season. At 33 probably for the best.
Prediction: 2-0 HSV
Borussia Monchengladbach is really in a great place. They are now, via goal difference, holding at fourth and in the Champions League playoff position. But to ensure they are in the top European competition next season they cannot let up for even a second. Their home form has been particularly good this season.
The hottest team in Germany is Bayer Leverkusen having won seven straight. For this team to ensure Champions League football next season is a big win. They can plan accordingly with the hopes that their best will be able to stick around and give next season a real go. Julian Brandt has been great playing to the left of Chicharito giving this squad a brilliant one two punch and thats without two other offensive weapons misfiring this season.
Prediction: 3-2 Borussia in an amazing match
Schalke 04 was able to score a few goals last week while still looking poorly. They could concieveably make the Champions League but would they be worthy of it is the question. This squad is full of talent but they have the wrong manager trying to put it together.
FC Augsburg is having a great year. Make Europe for the first time and then they make the knockout phase and quite nearly put out Liverpool at that stage. All the while this small squad has pulled themselves into safety for another season. Only a matter of time before the good pieces are picked clean from this sturdy squad.
Prediction: 1-1 draw
