Chronicle EditorBERLIN. — Bayern Munich may have ensured there was little suspense in the destination of the German Bundesliga soccer title this season but the battle for European places and the fight to avoid relegation rages on.
The pick of the weekend ties takes place today when Borussia Dortmund travel to the BayArena where fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen have a chance to move within one point of Schalke and the final automatic Champions League spot.
Schalke, who were humbled 9-2 by Real Madrid in the last-16 in March, will attempt to stave off Leverkusen and rejoin Bayern and Dortmund in next season’s competition when they host Borussia Moenchengladbach on Sunday.
Wolfsburg, who have appeared in the Champions League just once during the 2009-10 campaign, are also tracking Leverkusen and Schalke and trail fourth spot with a qualifying place well within their grasp.
The Europa League, where Wolfsburg were beaten by Fulham in the 2010 quarter-finals, is another possibility with Moenchengladbach and Mainz favourites to join them.
The bottom of the table is equally intriguing with Eintracht Braunschweig, Nuremburg and third from bottom Hamburg facing anxious finales to their respective campaigns.
Hamburg, who have never been relegated from the top flight, are on the road at eighth-placed Augsburg, trailing Stuttgart by four points.
With Nuremburg just one point back, Hamburg will be more concerned with protecting their place in the table which will give them a two-legged relegation play-off against the third placed team in division two.
Nuremberg’s destiny is out of their own hands and a trip to Mainz is hardly a three point banker that could lift them out of one of the two automatic relegation spots.
Braunschweig’s plight is equally perilous as they lie two points behind Hamburg and facing a trip to mid-table Hertha Berlin, who have little to play for.
Fixtures (all 3:30pm unless stated)
Today: Mainz v Nuremberg, Hoffenheim v Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayern Munich v Werder Bremen, Hertha Berlin v Eintracht Braunschweig, Wolfsburg v Freiburg, Bayer Leverkusen v Borussia Dortmund (6:30pm)
Tomorrow: Augsburg v Hamburg (3:30pm), Schalke v Borussia Moenchengladbach (5:30pm). — AFP.
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