BERLIN — Five teams are fighting for Bundesliga survival with two rounds remaining as the race for European qualification heats up alongside the relegation battle.
Relegation Battle Intensifies
Bremen sits just above the relegation zone as one of five teams still in danger. Wolfsburg moved into the relegation playoff spot last weekend but faces a difficult matchup against Bayern, who will hope to bounce back from their Champions League disappointment against PSG.
Last-placed Heidenheim shocked Bayern with a 3-3 draw between their two Champions League meetings with PSG, leaving the Bavarian giants on a three-game winless streak. Heidenheim will hope for Wolfsburg and St. Pauli losses to potentially move into the relegation playoff spot.
Second-from-bottom St. Pauli, winless in eight games, faces a daunting trip to third-placed Leipzig on Saturday. The club's survival hopes have been dealt a blow by injuries to defenders Jannik Robatsch, Karol Mets, and Manolis Saliakas, likely ruling them out for the rest of the season.
Champions League Qualification Race
Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen are level heading into their high-stakes Champions League qualification duel. Leverkusen visits Stuttgart on Saturday knowing a defeat or even a draw could allow Hoffenheim to capitalize with a win over relegation-threatened Bremen.
Hoffenheim is making it a three-team race for fourth place and the last guaranteed Champions League qualification spot. Leipzig can clinch Champions League qualification with a win against St. Pauli.
Germany may yet secure five Champions League qualification spots depending on Freiburg's international success. Freiburg faced a 2-1 deficit to Braga before the second leg of their Europa League semifinal on Thursday.
Bayern's European Exit
Bundesliga champion Bayern Munich was knocked out of the Champions League by defending champion Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals on Wednesday. Bayern's Lennart Karl made his return from a hamstring injury in the final minutes against PSG. The 18-year-old Karl should earn more playing time against Wolfsburg to prove his fitness for Germany at the World Cup.
Injury Updates
Borussia Dortmund defender Ramy Bensebaini is out of the last two rounds against Eintracht Frankfurt and Bremen with a foot injury. Coach Niko Kovač says his World Cup participation with Algeria is not in doubt.
Patrik Schick is hitting form at just the right time for Leverkusen with a hat trick against Leipzig last weekend, taking his tally to six goals in three games.
Bayern captain Manuel Neuer's future remains uncertain as the club awaits the 40-year-old goalkeeper's decision on whether he'll play another year. He may well wait till the German Cup final — Bayern plays Stuttgart in Berlin's Olympiastadion on May 23 — before deciding.
Club Contract Talks
Defender Konrad Laimer's contract with Bayern runs for another year. Talks over a new deal are ongoing, though the player will likely have to rein in his expectations after comments from Bayern powerbroker Uli Hoeneß.
Hoeneß said: "He works incredibly hard for the team. But he's not Maradona. And players like that have to accept there are limits."
Around the League
Union Berlin fought back for its first point under new coach Marie-Louise Eta against Cologne last weekend. Union has a reunion with Mainz coach Urs Fischer on Sunday as Eta goes for her first win. Both teams are safe from relegation.
Harry Kane has scored 55 goals across all competitions including the German Supercup.
Heidenheim's Budu Zivzivadze and Eren Dinkci scored at Bayern last weekend. If Frank Schmidt's side pulls off a great escape, it will be due largely to his two forwards.