German Bundesliga 1

Werder and Schalke in the Champions League

Last round, played by the middle of the week because of EURO 2008, solved the question of two German clubs that will together with new champion Bayern play in the Champions League, and these will be Werder and Schalke. These two clubs will fight for second place in the last two rounds, and one of them will go automatically to the elite competition.

While the Champions League participants have been decided, the last two rounds will hold a very interesting contention for UEFA Cup. For now Hamburger and Stuttgart have tickets in their hands, though Leverkusen and Wolfsburg are breathing behind their necks, while Hannover too have some chance for qualification.

The biggest fight in Bundesliga will be relegation battle, where Cottbus and Bielefeld are in the best situation. Nurnberg made a great step forward by winning Duisburg in the derby of the bottom and now they are only one point away from the safe zone. Hansa and Duisburg have theoretical chance to stay in the league but the way things are now, they will probably start packing after this round.


No greater derbies

As it has been happening for years, last two rounds in Bundesliga as well as in other competitions all of the teams will play their matches at the same time in order to avoid any calculations.

Relegation contenders, Bielefeld, Cottbus, Duisburg and Hansa will mostly host top teams, Dortmund, Hamburger, Bayern and Leverkusen respectively, while Nurnberg will play in Berlin against Hertha.

The most exciting match will be Karlsruher – Bochum where both sides will play without pressure.

Matches Schalke0Frankfurt, Wolfsburg-Stuttgart and Werder-Hannover will decide automatic promotion to the Champions League, as well as UEFA Cup.