Bundesliga Match Day 34: The Final Countdown
On the Bundesliga's final match day, there is still much to play for. No less than nine teams are actively playing for something; whether that is the league title, a Champions League berth, or a Europa League slot, this final weekend should be wild.
Game of (Bundesliga) Thrones
Bayern Munich 3, Eintracht Frankfurt 1: With a win, Bayern Munich can clinch the Bundesliga crown for the seventh consecutive year. In what could not have been designed much better (aside of the obvious Bayern vs. Dortmund showdown), the Bavarians will square off against coach Niko Kovac's former team, Eintracht Frankfurt.
It has not been the easiest year for Kovac. Under pressure from the get-go, the 47-year-old struggled to manage the personnel, suffered through some self-inflicted over-rotating, and showed just enough holes within his coaching to help enrage a large #KovacOut following. While pushing the coach out the door so soon seems premature, the pressure and weight of this game is squarely on Kovac. With a loss, Kovac is assuredly done in Munich after one season...but even if he wins, he likely also has to defeat RB Leipzig in the DFB-Pokal final to really secure his job.
Regardless, this game will not be easy. Frankfurt, itself, is playing for a lot. With a win, Frankfurt could secure a Champions League position or -- at a minimum -- a Europa League slot. With a loss, however, Frankfurt could be shutout of European competition completely. While the tired and weary legs of Luka Jovic, Ante Rebic, Sebastien Haller, Filip Kostic, and others will be put to the test; that talent, however, will likely be able to muster enough stamina to give their old coach a hard time.
This won't be easy, but Bayern should win and Frankfurt will be left hoping some other results help it gain a spot for the Europa League next season.
Borussia Dortmund 3, Borussia Monchengladbach 2: BVB needs to win just to have a chance at a league crown and should be considered the favorite in this match, despite M'Gladbach still fighting for a Champions League berth.
This won't be a pushover for Dortmund, but with Marco Reus back in the lineup, this should be a game that BVB can gut out -- even with a stern challenge from Die Fohlen. Reus, Mario Gotze, Jadon Sancho, and the resurgent Christian Pulisic should provide enough offense for Dortmund, even before Paco Alcacer inevitably enters the game as a substitute.
M'Gladbach looked like it was a sure thing for a UCL spot just about eight weeks ago, but the table got a bit crazy and now four teams are competing for the fourth -- and final -- Champions League spot. With the transfer drama surrounding Thorgan Hazard occupying a lot of headlines, this is likely the Belgian's last opportunity to do something special for the home fans.
It will be close, but Dortmund should have the edge.
(Standings courtesy of @Bundesliga_EN)
The Fight for Europe
Bayer Leverkusen 4, Hertha Berlin 1: Die Werkself will visit Berlin in hopes of securing three points and getting a little help to sneak into the fourth and final UCL spot. If Leverkusen is unable to secure a Champions League berth, it could have a big effect on several key members of its rosters. Specifically, both Julian Brandt and Kai Havertz could potentially be on the move
Brandt has been strongly linked to Dortmund, while Havertz is drawing interest from Bayern, Manchester United, and FC Barcelona among others -- though his rumored price tag of €100m and Rudi Voller's unwillingness to sell the starlet could be a roadblock. Either way, a win and some other fortuitous results in other games might help Leverkusen keep its core together.
RB Leipzig 3, Werder Bremen 2: This should be a fun and exciting contest between two teams who have shown the ability to fight until the bitter end. Leipzig is cemented into third place and cannot move up nor down. Werder Bremen, meanwhile, could possibly sneak into a Europa League slot -- or at least the Europa League qualifier stage (7th place). Of course, Die Werderaner will still need some help, but three points would go a long way.
Hoffenheim 3, Mainz 2: TSG1899's last game under Julian Nagelsmann is an important one. Should Hoffenheim secure a win or a draw, it will at least be positioned to have a chance at European play. With a loss, Hoffenheim might be shut out.
Mainz has been a thorn in the side of nearly everyone. If Hoffenheim gets distracted in Nagelsmann's final game, it could totally blow its chance to move up into one of the Europa League slots. Mainz really should be considered one of the good stories in the Bundesliga this season, despite its current standing in 12th place. There is something good building there, but more depth and overall talent is needed.
Wolfsburg 2, FC Augsburg 1: The Wolves are fighting for Europe and any slot would be a huge success considering where this team was just 18 months ago. It has been a tremendous turnaround just to be in this position, but it won't be easy. Augsburg has been playing better of late. That said, this should be a good way for the Wolves to show that they've come full circle and give themselves an opportunity for Europe next season.
The Afterthoughts
With relegation already determined and with no hope for European competition, these games just don't mean a lot.
Fortuna Dusseldorf 3, Hannover 96 1: It wasn't a banner two years in the top flight for H96, but after showing a fighting spirit last season, Hannover 96 had an awful 2018/2019 season. As for F95, they did enough to stay in the top flight and also showed enough to think that they could be a middle of the table squad next season.
SC Freiburg 2, FC Nurnberg 1: Christian Streich's team has been maddeningly inconsistent, but, again, did enough to secure another year in the top flight. Der Club, meanwhile, had a miserable year and will be headed back down to 2.Bundesliga regardless of what happens in this game.
Schalke 04 2, VfB Stuttgart 1: Die Schwaben will be playing for its life in a relegation playoff, while Schalke will likely be looking to turn the page on this season ASAP. 2018/2019 was nothing short of a complete and utter disaster for Schalke and the planning for next season likely started two months ago. Stuttgart, meanwhile, will need to use this as a tune-up to save its place in the top flight for next season.
The only thing that has fallen harder than my record of late is King's Landing!
Last match day record: 2-7
Season record: 149-148
Note: Predicted ties count as a win if correct and as a loss if there is a winner; conversely if a game is predicted to have a winner but ends in a tie, it will count as a loss.
