The final matchday of the 2014-15 Bundesliga is here with plenty to offer – champions Bayern Munich will lift the Meisterschale, Bundesliga veterans – among them Mainza s Nikolce Noveski, Leverkusena s Simon Rolfes and Dortmunda s Sebastian Kehl – say their goodbyes before retiring and the intense relegation battle finally comes to a conclusion. All this and more on matchday 34.
Relegation madness
In what is turning out to be one of the Bundesligaa s closest ever relegation scuffle, a total of 6 teams (from position 13 and below) will fight for survival.
After their victory against Bayern last week, Freiburg host Hannover who are on level points with them. A win for either side will guarantee their safety, as will a draw if other results go their way. M nchengladbach bound Hannover captain Lars Stindl has saved his team’s skin on numerous occasions this season and will once again be expected to lead from the front.
Goal-shy Hamburg face a struggling Schalke as they aim to be the only Bundesliga team to never have been relegated in their entire history. However, it is not an easy task as even a win may not be enough for them. Roberto Di Matteoa s side has been under scrutiny for the last few weeks and a win at Hamburg will certainly ease the pressure on the management as well as players.
Minnows Paderborn square up to in-form Stuttgart in yet another a winner takes alla game. Finally, Hertha Berlin visit Hoffenheim with practically no chance of relegation, as they need to lose by more than 2 goals and bank on other circumstances as well for them to drop down
Klopp and Kehl bid farewell
Emotions will run high at the Signal Iduna Park on Saturday when Borussia Dortmund host Werder Bremen as manager JA?rgen Klopp and veteran Sebastian Kehl appear one last time in front of the SA?dtribune. The former captain and German international has been at the club since 2001 and has made over 300 appearances in that period. European qualification is also at stake for both the sides with the winner entering the 3rd qualifying round at least. Dortmund and Bremen have both turned their fortunes around since the winter break, before which they were the bottom two sides in the league. Dortmund need to avoid defeat to ensure a berth amongst Europea s elite.*
Roman Weidenfeller will return between the sticks once more and Ilkay GA?ndogan could possibly play his final game league game for the black and yellows. Erik Durma s form could see Lukasz Piszczek on the bench yet again and Kevin Kampl could replace Kuba on the wing. Werder Bremen should field the same 11 as the one that lost to M nchengladbach last week spearheaded by the departing Franco Di Santo and Davie Selke.
*Dortmund could lose and still qualify via the DFB Pokal if they beat Wolfsburg in the final
Dortmund (4-2-3-1): Weidenfeller-Durm-Sokratis-Hummels-Schmelzer-GA?ndogan-Kehl-Kampl-Mkhitaryan-Reus-Aubameyang
Werder (4-1-3-2): Casteels-Selassie-Pr dl-Vestergaard-Sternberg-Bargfrede-Bartels-Junuzovic- ztunali-Selke-Di Santo
Elsewhere in Germany
Bayern Munich will be officially crowned champions after their game vs. Mainz, with the Bavariana s Meisterfeier celebrations beginning immediately after. Pep Guardiola has confirmed that he will not field an experimental side, but instead play the best possible eleven.
Borussia M nchengladbach host Augsburg, with the guests hoping other results go their way to ensure a Europa League spot. Having exceeded all expectations, Markus Weinzierl’s Augsburg could put the icing on the cake with a victory over injury ridden ‘Gladbach and qualify for the Europa League, made all the more surprising by the fact that Augsburg have played in the Bundesliga only since 2011.
Eintracht Frankfurt play Bayer Leverkusen and finally, FC K ln entertain second placed Wolfsburg to round up the 2014-15 Bundesliga season. Both matches will have no impact on the fierce fight for European qualification and survival. However, Wolfsburg could surrender their runners-up position to ‘Gladbach if they lose and ‘Gladbach emerge victorious.
Predictions
Paderborn 0-3 Stuttgart (Paderborn are relegated)
Hamburg 1-0 Schalke (Hamburg are relegated)
Hannover 1-1 Freiburg (Hannover enter relegation play-offs)
Hoffenheim 2-1 Hertha
Dortmund 2-1 Werder
Bayern 2-0 Mainz
a Gladbach 1-1 Augsburg
Frankfurt 0-2 Leverkusen
K ln 0-3 Wolfsburg