"For the first time in Bundesliga history, the bottom three sides head into the final day of the season on the same points. Come Saturday teatime, one will be in the relegation play-offs but the other two will be consigned to the second tier of German football. Wolfsburg go into the weekend in the play-off position - three goals better off than Heidenheim and St Pauli, who are only separated by goals scored. The drama is further intensified by the fact St Pauli host Wolfsburg on the final day."
"Former champions Wolfsburg are set for their worst finish in the Bundesliga since the 2017-18 season, when they were 16th and stayed up after beating Holstein Kiel 4-1 on aggregate in the relegation play-off. The Wolves have been in the Bundesliga since the 1997-98 season, winning the title in 2009, the DFB-Pokal in 2015 and the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup in 2015-16. Wolfsburg's goal difference gives them some breathing room, meaning a win over St Pauli is likely to result in them being in the play-off."
"However, they have struggled for form in 2026, having only won one of their past 16 league matches. That said, they have taken more points on the road this season, with four of their six wins away from home, and they are unbeaten in their past five meetings with St Pauli. Heidenheim are 17th in the league as they prepare to host Mainz on Saturday."
"In mid-March, following a defeat by Eintracht Frankfurt, they were 10 points adrift from the play-off position and looked certain to be playing in the second tier of German football after three seasons in the Bundesliga. Heidenheim have since lost only one of their seven league matches, which include wins against Union Berlin, Cologne and, most importantly, St Pauli. If St Pauli and Wolfsburg draw, a win would take Heidenheim into the relegation play-off."
Wolfsburg, Heidenheim, and St Pauli enter the final day with the bottom three on the same points for the first time in Bundesliga history. Wolfsburg occupy the relegation play-off spot on goal difference, three goals better than Heidenheim, while Heidenheim and St Pauli are separated only by goals scored. St Pauli host Wolfsburg, and the result is likely to decide who stays in the play-off position. Wolfsburg are set for their worst league finish since 2017-18 and have struggled for form in 2026, winning once in 16 matches, though they have been strong away and unbeaten versus St Pauli in five meetings. Heidenheim host Mainz and have improved since mid-March, losing only once in seven league matches, including wins over Union Berlin, Cologne, and St Pauli.
Read at www.bbc.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]