© Imago
RB Leipzig will miss out on European football if they lose against visitors Stuttgart on Saturday at Red Bull Arena in their final Bundesliga game of the season.
Die Roten Bullen are seventh with 51 points following their 0-0 draw with Werder Bremen on May 10, while opponents Stuttgart beat Augsburg 4-0 on May 11 and are in ninth place with 47 points.
We say: RB Leipzig 2-1 Stuttgart
It is difficult to see either side keeping a clean sheet given both will be missing key players in their respective backlines.
However, Leipzig’s record at home is strong and Stuttgart will also be missing arguably their best midfielder, so the hosts should be seen as favourites.
> Bundesliga preview: RB Leipzig vs Stuttgart
© Imago
Fifth-placed Borussia Dortmund could claim a Champions League spot in their final Bundesliga game of the season if they beat relegated visitors Holstein Kiel on Saturday at Signal Iduna Park.
BVB’s points tally of 54 is just one fewer than fourth-placed Freiburg, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot, while their opponents are in 17th place with just 25 points, and their relegation was confirmed following their 2-1 loss against Freiburg on May 10.
We say: Borussia Dortmund 4-1 Holstein Kiel
Dortmund will look to take advantage of the visitors’ vulnerable defence, and they are likely to create numerous opportunities.
It would not be surprising if Holstein Kiel found their way onto the scoresheet, but they are almost certain to be on the receiving end of another loss.
> Bundesliga preview: Dortmund vs Holstein Kiel
© Imago
Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich will hope to celebrate the final game of the season with a victory against hosts Hoffenheim on Saturday at PreZero Arena.
Hoffenheim are fourth last in 15th place, and their points tally of 32 may already be enough to avoid dropping into the 16th-placed relegation playoff spot, whereas Bayern beat Borussia Monchengladbach 2-0 on May 10 and have 79 points.
We say: Hoffenheim 2-4 Bayern Munich
Hoffenheim will almost certainly pose challenges to Bayern considering they have been strong in the final third.
The Bavarians may already have claimed the Bundesliga crown, but they will be keen to cap off their fine domestic campaign with another three points.
> Bundesliga preview: Hoffenheim vs Bayern
© Imago
Needing victory and a six-goal swing to avoid the Bundesliga’s relegation playoff place, Heidenheim will host Werder Bremen on Saturday.
While Werder’s hopes of qualifying for Europe are all but over, their hosts sit just three points behind 15th-placed Hoffenheim, who must play Bayern Munich on the final day.
We say: Heidenheim 0-1 Werder Bremen
Just when it really matters, Heidenheim have found new depths of defensive resilience, but they must host a Werder Bremen side that truly excels on the road.
Suiting neither club, a slim Werder win should see the visitors finish outside of the European places, while their hosts are surely facing a playoff for survival.
> Bundesliga preview: Heidenheim vs Werder Bremen
© Imago
Both sides could be celebrating on Saturday, as Freiburg host fellow Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt on the Bundesliga’s last matchday.
While victory for either would seal the deal, defeat would not prove disastrous if fifth-placed Borussia Dortmund slip up. Furthermore, three points will take Freiburg above their visitors into third, matching the Black Forest club’s best-ever finish.
We say: Freiburg 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Depending on Dortmund’s fortunes at home to relegated Kiel, a draw could secure a top-four slot for both clubs, as the Bundesliga’s Champions League race goes down to the wire.
Freiburg are tough to beat on home turf, while Frankfurt have lost only five times on the road, so a stalemate is perhaps the likeliest outcome.
> Bundesliga preview: Freiburg vs Frankfurt
© Iconsport
Aiming to end their three-match losing streak, Augsburg welcome a Union Berlin side two places below them in the Bundesliga table for Saturday’s season finale at WWK Arena.
Despite entering the final match of the campaign on a losing sequence, the Bavarians’ impressive nine-match unbeaten top-flight sequence in this fixture will be put to the test against the capital club, who have claimed five consecutive victories in the last gameweek and seek to record a sixth straight success.
We say: Augsburg 1-1 Union Berlin
Having not secured maximum points in this fixture since January 2020, Union may not have a better chance of beating an Augsburg side that already appear to be on vacation.
However, with neither side having much to play for, a draw seems a likely outcome in Bavaria.
> Bundesliga preview: Augsburg vs Union Berlin
© Imago
Defeated Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen will hope to derail hosts Mainz 05‘s chances of qualifying for European football when they play them at Mewa Arena on Saturday in their final game of the season.
Sixth-placed Mainz have 51 points but only occupy the division’s Conference League qualification spot due to having better goal difference than seventh-placed RB Leipzig, while Leverkusen have 68 points and have secured second place despite losing 4-2 against Borussia Dortmund on May 11.
We say: Mainz 05 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Leverkusen’s defence has proven vulnerable in recent weeks, and they could encounter difficulties against Mainz.
Having said that, the visitors will want to ensure that the likes of Alonso and Frimpong are given good send-offs for their endeavours in Germany, and they could score multiple times themselves.
> Bundesliga preview: Mainz vs B. Leverkusen
© Imago
Separated by two places in the Bundesliga table, struggling duo Borussia Monchengladbach and Wolfsburg clash in gameweek 34 at Borussia-Park.
The Foals are winless in six top-flight matches, while their opponents enter the final round on a nine-match run without a victory, a sequence that cost Ralph Hasenhuttl his job at the start of May.
We say: Borussia Monchengladbach 1-0 Wolfsburg
While Monchengladbach and Wolfsburg are in poor form heading into Saturday’s contest, with the Wolves failing to score in three of their previous four away matches and Gladbach’s tendency to find the back of the net at home, the Foals should secure a narrow victory.
> Bundesliga preview: Borussia M’bach vs Wolfsburg
© Imago
St Pauli enter Saturday’s final day in the Bundesliga needing a point against relegated VfL Bochum at Millerntor-Stadion to survive in the top flight for the first time since the 1995-96 season.
The hosts head into the contest three points clear of Heidenheim in the relegation playoff spot, and even a defeat might still see them stay above the bottom three, given their superior goal difference over the 16th-placed outfit.
We say: St Pauli 1-0 VfL Bochum
While Hecking’s men are expected to play with freedom, this contest between the division’s lowest scorers should be decided by very fine margins.
Although a draw seems a fair prediction, we are backing St Pauli to secure the win for their fourth victory over Bochum in six home Bundesliga contests.
> Bundesliga preview: St Pauli vs VfL Bochum
