Race for Champions League qualification keeping Bundesliga on edge
Four teams are vying to join Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League next season and a host more are fighting for survival in the Bundesliga.
Last-placed Heidenheim could be relegated this weekend, possibly replaced by second-division leader Schalke, which can seal promotion.
There are no games on Friday as it’s May Day, traditionally a day of demonstrations and worker protests accompanied by a heavy police presence across Germany. May Day falls on a Saturday next year, when there will be no matches at all over the whole weekend because of the anticipated security requirements.
Saturdays and Sunday’s games are unaffected this year. The Women’s Bundesliga is also unaffected, with Union Berlin visiting Hamburger SV on Friday. Bayern sealed the women’s title as it did the men’s already.
Key matchups: Heidenheim faces a daunting trip to Bayern on Saturday. Heidenheim boosted its hopes of avoiding the drop with wins over Union Berlin and St Pauli this month. But a win at Bayern would be a major surprise, even if the already crowned league champion is likely to field a B team before its Champions League semifinal second leg against Paris Saint Germain next week.
PSG won a pulsating first leg 5-4 on Tuesday.
Heidenheim would be relegated by a defeat in Munich if St Pauli, currently in the relegation playoff place, beats Mainz at home on Sunday.
Schalke can clinch promotion on Saturday with a win at home over struggling Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Hoffenheim welcomes Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen hosts Leipzig for duels with Champions League qualification at stake on Saturday. Third-placed Leipzig is the best-positioned of the four teams after five straight wins for 62 points, followed by Stuttgart and Hoffenheim on 57. Leverkusen is seven points behind Leipzig with three round rounds to play.
Union Berlin hosts Cologne on Saturday with both teams just outside the relegation zone. Union is looking for its first points since Marie-Louise Eta was appointed coach.
