Bundesliga Final Day Preview

9:30 ET Schalke 04 VS TSG Hoffenheim
9:30 ET Bayern Munich VS VfB Stuttgart
9:30 ET VfL Wolfsburg VS Werder Bremen
9:30 ET Arminia Bielefeld VS Hannover 96
9:30 ET Energie Cottbus VS Bayer Leverkusen
9:30 ET FC Cologne VS VfL Bochum
9:30 ET Karlsruhe VS Hertha Berlin
9:30 ET Borussia Monchengladbach VS Borussia Dortmund
9:30 ET Eintracht Frankfurt VS Hamburg SV

The Meisterschaft will hinge on Wolfsburg, whom only need a draw at home to Werder Bremen, who wouldn’t been keen on helping Bayern Munich in the first place. Bremen also have the DFB Pokal final in a few days, so are likely to rest key (and tired) players after Wednesday’s heartbreaking loss to Shaktar. Wolfsburg, whom many predicted to fold after the news of Magath’s departure, look sharp again after two drubbings of Dortmund and Hannover.

Bayern could technically win the league with a Wolfsburg draw and nine goal victory over the visiting Swabians. But knowing that this is unlikely, Bayern are resigned to securing the automatic Champions League spot, which a draw would secure.

Unfortunately, they host the team that sits second in the second half form table. A win for the Swabians would secure them 2nd and could send Bayern Munich to the Europa League. Current form aside, Markus Babbel’s men need a victory to ensure Champions League next year with Hertha hot on their trail, so it is squeaky bum time for the Bavarian giants.

Hertha Berlin sit fourth at the moment, but a win away to lowly Karsruhe, who could still make it to the relegation/promotion match with a win, puts the Capital side in next year’s Champions League regardless of the outcome of Bayern-Stuttgart. Anything less and they will finish the day where they started.

The final Euopean battle comes down to Dortmund and Hamburg for the last Europa League spot. Sitting even on points, Dortmund posses a commanding goal difference. Dortmund visit Gladbach, who need a victory to ensure survival. Hamburg visit Eintracht who are already safe. Dortmund is the hotter side, so they have the upperhand, but a draw could see their late surge all for naught if Hamburg can overcome their late season doldrums.

In the relegation battle, all four teams host games this final weekend. Gladbach host Dortmund as was mentioned and Karlsruhe host Hertha Berlin. The other two teams attempting to avoid the drop are Cottbus, who host Leverkusen. Leverkusen also have the DFB Pokal next week and will rest some players ahead of their showdown with Werder Bremen. Arminia host Hannover in the final relegation game. With Artur Wichniarek back from injury, the could make the great escape considering their opponent.

Cologne host Bochum and Schake host Hoffenheim in the only matches without repercussions to the season.

GolTV will be showing a simulcast of the Bayern-Stuttgart, Wolfsburg-Werder matches along with a post game(s) victory show starting at 11:30 AM.

Meanwhile there is little drama in the Zweite where only a Nuremburg win coupled with a Mainz loss could see Nuremburg gain automatic promotion and Mainz in the playoff game, instead of the other way round. Meanwhile three teams fight to avoid the relegation game on the other end of the table, and all three are on the road. Rostock visits Wehen, Frankfurt visits St. Pauli and Osnabruck visit Duisburg. A win would secure any of these three, separated by two points, safety. If comes down to draws, Rostock have the upper hand with superior goal difference and a relegated foe. Freiburg is guaranteed of coming up and Ingolstadt and Wehen are heading down to the new 3. Bundeliga.