With two matchdays to go, the relegation battle in the Bundesliga is coming to a head. We explain how VfL Bochum and Schalke 04 can save themselves.
The fight for relegation in the Bundesliga is very tense: VfL Bochum, in 15th place, is suddenly above the line again after a 3:2 victory over FC Augsburg, while Schalke 04 slipped to the relegation zone after a 6:0 defeat at FC Bayern.
In the relegation battle, Bochum could celebrate as early as this weekend and secure their direct stay in the relegation zone. If VfL win at Hertha BSC, who are relegated without a win against Bochum, Bochum would have 34 points on their account.
Should VfB Stuttgart fail to win at FSV Mainz and Schalke 04 lose to Eintracht Frankfurt, then Bochum would no longer be caught up by either club. Should TSG Hoffenheim lose their match against Union Berlin, then Bochum would at least be assured of relegation with a win, as Stuttgart and Hoffenheim meet in a direct duel on the last matchday and could no longer both pass VfL.
Schalke, who have been relegated for weeks, can avert direct relegation before the last matchday. The calculation in this respect is simple: Schalke must win their last home match against Eintracht Frankfurt and Stuttgart must lose in Mainz. Then Thomas Reis’ team would at least have achieved the minimum goal of relegation – and that would certainly have been signed immediately a few weeks ago.
Place 13: FC Augsburg – 34 points, 42:58 goals
33 Matchday: Borussia Dortmund (H)
34 Matchday: Borussia Mönchengladbach (A)
14th place: TSG Hoffenheim – 32 points, 43:54 goals
33 Matchday: 1. FC Union Berlin (H)
34 Matchday: VfB Stuttgart (A)
15th place: VfL Bochum – 31 points, 36:71 goals
33 Matchday: Hertha BSC (A)
34 Matchday: Bayer 04 Leverkusen (H)
16th place: FC Schalke 04 – 30 points, 31:65 goals
33 Matchday: Eintracht Frankfurt (H)
34 Matchday: RB Leipzig (A)
17th place: VfB Stuttgart – 29 points, 40:55 goals
33 Matchday: FSV Mainz 05 (A)
34 Matchday: TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (H)
18th place: Hertha BSC – 25 points, 39:67 goals
33 Matchday: VfL Bochum (H)
34 Matchday: VfL Wolfsburg (A)
