Bundesliga Preview: Bayern looking to finish strong while relegation looms for Hamburg

Eintracht Frankfurt v RB Leipzig

Both sides are now left with nothing play for as we head into the last matchday of the season. Frankfurt have well and truly bottled it in the second half of the season and I think the fans will be disappointed not to have given the teams around them more of a challenge for the lucrative position of the European spots. Leipzig, on the other hand, have guaranteed themselves Champions League qualification for next season after a fine debut season finishing second in the Bundesliga. Their most recent 5-4 defeat to Bayern Munich has given a glimpse of what Leipzig are capable of and that they could mount more pressure on the Champions League, but some hard work will have to be put in over summer defensively for that to be the case.

For this game, I believe that a 2-1 win in favour of Leipzig as there will be no pressure on either of the sides and Leipzig have the better quality players regardless of being away from home.

Bayern Munich v Freiburg

Bayern Munich are the Champions for the 5th consecutive season and, to be fair to Carlo Ancelotti and his men, they’ve very much deserved it with excellent defensive work and a deadly counter attack routine as shown in their recent 5-4 routine. Freiburg, on the other hand, are in with a chance of Europa League qualification but they’ll most likely have to get at least a point when they travel to Bayern, an achievement that not many teams have managed to accomplish this season, and they were fortunate to get anything from their home draw to Ingolstadt after some dodgy defending from Romain Bregerie saw Maximilian Philipp capitalise.

For this game, I predict 3-0 to Bayern Munich in order to finish the job on a high.

Borussia Dortmund v Werder Bremen

Werder Bremen found themselves embarrassed, red-faced and 5-0 down at home to Hoffenheim and all looked bleak for Bremen as they saw their goal difference, which they had worked so hard to improve since the winter break, demolished in the first half of the game. They managed to pull 3 goals back in the second half but they had left themselves too big a mountain to climb and lost the game 5-3, meaning that they need to beat Dortmund in this game to stand any chance of qualifying. Dortmund, on the other hand, come into this game after a disappointing 1-1 draw to Augsburg but also have a very strong home record and haven’t lost in the league for over 2 years, and this is something that will knock Bremen’s confidence even more as they know they’re unlikely to get a result. Therefore, I think a 2-0 win in favour of Dortmund will be the result.

FC Köln v Mainz 05

Köln are only a win away from the Europa League qualification places and Mainz have been one of the worst-performing teams since the winter break, so this is the perfect chance for Köln to get a big win under their belt and cement their place in the competition with their big guns such as Anthony Modeste, Leonardo Bittencourt and Milos Jogic. However, Mainz will be full of confidence after a standout performance from Bojan in their 4-2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend.

This game will be a very standard victory for Köln and I think a 3-1 win is on the cards.

Hamburg v Wolfsburg

Hamburg and Wolfsburg will both be feeling the pinch heading into the last day as both of them could end up in the relegation play-off if results go against them, and this game could be crucial in order to determine who goes down. Hamburg got a lucky point last week after Pierre-Michel Lasogga snatched a late equaliser, and Wolfsburg drew against Mönchengladbach, so it’s all to play for in this game, but I think it will be a 2-1 win in favour of Wolfsburg.

Ingolstadt v Schalke

Ingolstadt are now officially relegated from the Bundesliga and were unable to prevent their inevitable relegation with a 1-1 draw away at Freiburg, but I’m definitely tipping them to bounce straight back up next season depending on how the summer transfer window goes as they do have a lot of quality in their ranks. Schalke, on the other hand, have nothing to play for and no Europe to play in next year, and with Leon Goretzka looking likely to leave this summer it could be crucial for Schalke to get their spending right in order to improve next year. I think overall a 1-1 draw will be the case in this game as both sides can play without pressure.

Mönchengladbach v Darmstadt

Mönchengladbach have an outside chance of finishing in the top 7 if the results go their way which is very likely as they play a Darmstadt side who are already relegated and certain to finish bottom of the table. Darmstadt have a poor away record but have shown strength in their most recent fixture after a positive performance away at Bayern, but this is a do or die game for Mönchengladbach to win in order for them to get European qualification, so I think that Gladbach will win this game 1-0.

Hertha Berlin v Bayer Leverkusen

Hertha Berlin’s last home game resulted in a heavy 4-1 defeat to RB Leipzig due to a masterclass and a dose of poor defending from Hertha Berlin which is very uncharacteristic of Pal Dardai’s side. It’s also been a season to forget from Bayer Leverkusen’s point of view and they will immediately be looking forward to next season, with their bright prospects in their ranks in order to carry them forward back to the top 6 where they belong, but for this season I believe that this game will be a 2-1 win to Hertha Berlin.

Hoffenheim v Augsburg

Hoffenheim are an incredible side at home and don’t look like drawing this game or even losing it due to Augsburg’s inability when playing away from home, and with the nerves on Augsburg and relegation, I think that it all might get too much for them so I think that Hoffenheim will win this game 3-0.