BERLIN (AP) — Two rounds remain in the Bundesliga season, and the stakes couldn't be higher across both ends of the table.
Relegation Battle Heating Up
Five teams remain locked in a desperate fight to avoid the drop. Werder Bremen sits just above the relegation zone and will face Hoffenheim on Saturday.
Wolfsburg dropped into the relegation playoff spot last weekend but poses a tough test, hosting Bayern Munich. The champions will be looking to rebound from their Champions League disappointment against PSG.
Heidenheim, rooted to the bottom of the table, kept Bayern to a dramatic 3-3 draw during their European meeting—a result that saw the Bavarians go three games without a win.
St. Pauli, second from bottom and winless in eight matches, faces a daunting trip to third-placed Leipzig on Saturday.
Cologne isn't safe yet either. The club travels to Heidenheim on Sunday, while Union Berlin grabbed a crucial point against Cologne last weekend.
Champions League Race Tightens
Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen remain level on points ahead of their high-stakes showdown on Saturday. A slip by either side could open the door for Hoffenheim to leapfrog into fourth place.
Leipzig can clinch Champions League qualification with a win over St. Pauli on Saturday.
Germany could still secure five Champions League spots depending on Freiburg's Europa League performance. Freiburg trails Braga 2-1 heading into Thursday's second leg.
Bayern Munich was dumped out of the Champions League by defending champion Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals on Wednesday.
Injury and Transfer News
Bayern captain Manuel Neuer. The 40-year-old goalkeeper is weighing whether to return for another season. A decision may come after the German Cup final on May 23 in Berlin.
Bayern young star Lennart Karl returned from a hamstring injury in the closing minutes against PSG and could feature against Wolfsburg to prove his fitness for the World Cup.
Konrad Laimer's contract runs for one more year. Negotiations are ongoing, though Bayern powerbroker Uli Hoeneß suggested the Austria international must accept realistic expectations.
Dortmund defender Ramy Bensebaini is out for the final two rounds with a foot injury. Coach Niko Kovač confirmed his World Cup participation with Algeria remains certain.
St. Pauli's survival bid suffered a major blow. Defenders Jannik Robatsch, Karol Mets, and Manolis Saliakas are likely out for the season.
Player Form Watch
Patrik Schick of Leverkusen is peaking at exactly the right moment. His hat trick against Leipzig last weekend gave him six goals in his last three appearances.
Harry Kane has recorded 55 goals across all competitions including the German Supercup.
Heidenheim duo Budu Zivzivadze and Eren Dinkci both scored against Bayern last weekend. If manager Frank Schmidt's side pulls off a great escape, much credit will go to these two forwards.