Eintracht Frankfurt have to spoil Borussia Dortmund’s title celebrations today to have any hope of avoiding relegation on the final day of the Bundesliga season.
Frankfurt are in the worst position of the three teams fighting to avoid joining already demoted St. Pauli.
The club is one point below Borussia Moenchengladbach and Wolfsburg are without a win in six games since Christoph Daum took over as coach, and they have the worst attack in the league with only 30 goals scored.
Moenchengladbach have momentum after winning three games in a row as they travel to Hamburg SV, while Wolfsburg - who have a superior goal difference - will be safe if they win at Hoffenheim.
Bayern Munich can overtake second-place Bayer Leverkusen to clinch an automatic Champions League spot on superior goal difference if they beat Stuttgart at home, and if Leverkusen lose at Freiburg in a game neither coach is desperate to win.
Leverkusen coach Jupp Heynckes takes over at Bayern next season and will be replaced by Freiburg’s Robin Dutt, meaning a defeat for either would benefit their future clubs.
Daum, who has endured the worst ever start by a coach in the Bundesliga, is still waiting for his first win.
“It’s no longer in our hands,” the 57-year-old Daum acknowledged.
A draw for Eintracht would only be enough for the playoff spot on goal difference if Moenchengladbach lose, but off-field trouble is threatening to overshadow efforts.
Riot police used pepper spray to protect players from angry fans last week, and fans threw stones at the team’s coach the week before.
Extra security arrangements have been made for the game on Saturday, when Dortmund will be presented with the league trophy. But Frankfurt president Peter Fischer’s insulting description of Borussia – made while attempting to calm rampaging fans –will do little to diffuse the atmosphere of another 80,720-capacity crowd.
The game will be shown live in 196 countries.
Hamburg are already planning for next season and several players are leaving the club, including Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and Brazilian Ze Roberto – who has made 336 Bundesliga appearances, a record for a foreigner.
If Wolfsburg secure survival, coach Felix Magath will exchange his bonus of a €250,000 Bentley Continental Cabrio for six Volkswagen multivans to be given to local charities.
“I want to make it clear that everyone must be ready to give everything for survival,” Magath said on the club website. “And if something good comes of that, even better.”
Influential midfielder Diego is optimistic of recovering from muscle problems to play in what will be Hoffenheim coach Marco Pezzaiuoli’s last game.
Fellow Brazilian Josue should also be fit for Magath’s side.
Heynckes dismissed suggestions that he would be upset if Munich finished third and had to qualify for the Champions League.
It will be Leverkusen and former Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia’s last game before the 37-year-old retires to focus on a coaching career.
Bayern forward Thomas Mueller increased the psychological pressure on Heynckes’ side when he suggested it was in Leverkusen’s nature to fail at the last under pressure.
Bundesliga top scorer Mario Gomez will hope to add to his season tally of 27 goals for Bayern against his former side.
Even a draw is enough for Leverkusen to secure second place.
“The whole club and the fans deserve to qualify directly for the Champions League after such a good season,” Leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling said.
Fourth-place Hannover are involved in a fight with Mainz for the Europa League play-off spot, with the losers settling for qualification.
Hannover host Nuremberg, and Mainz host St. Pauli in coach Holger Stanislawski’s last game before he takes over at Hoffenheim.
Cologne hostsSchalke and Werder Bremen play at Kaiserslautern with nothing at stake in either game.
Today
Bayern Munich-Stuttgart
Bor. Dortmund-Ein. Frankfurt
Cologne-Schalke
Hamburg-B. Monchengladbach
Hannover 96-FC Nurnberg
Hoffenheim-Wolfsburg
Kaiserslautern-Werder Bremen
Mainz-St Pauli
SC Freiburg-Bayer Leverkusen