Lots up for Grabs in Final Bundesliga Week
May 19, 2005
Stuttgart had their fate in their own hands last week: a road game against almost all but relegated side Bochum. The result -- a 2-0 defeat.
"What annoys me most is that we were unable to put the pressure on when we trailed 1-0," said Sammer. "We have some thinking to do."
Now, the pressure is on Stuttgart to do this Saturday what they didn't accomplish last week -- win. Their task is made infinitely tougher by facing Bundesliga champs Bayern Munich, who simply ran away with the title the last six weeks of the season while their rivals all floundered in mediocrity. On the heels of a 6-3 rout of Nuremberg and Bayern frontman Roy Makaay (photo) within striking distance of the league goalscoring title, Felix Magath's side presents an extremely dangerous mix for their largest southern rival.
Should Stuttgart (58 points, third place) lose or even just tie, there are two teams who would be extremely grateful to accept the slot in the qualification round for the Champions League: Berlin or Bremen.
Hertha Berlin missed their chance to cruise past Stuttgart when they played to a disappointing 0-0 draw against 15th place Borussia Mönchengladbach. Nevertheless, they lie just one point back and host Hanover this week. With eight million euros ($10.1 million) at stake, the minimum amount a club can make by participating in the Champions Leauge, the Berlin players know they must concentrate on the matter at hand.
"(The Champions League) gives us completely different chances to strengthen our team," Hertha coach Falko Götz (photo below, middle) told Sport Bild magazine. They must do if they want to challenge Bayern Munich, the stated goal of team management, in the upcoming season.
Last year's champs Werder Bremen were the beneficiary of everyone else's blunders last week and now sit just two points back of Stuttgart in fifth place. On Saturday they face Kaiserslautern. Bremen's sport director, Klaus Allofs, is pulling everything out of his bag of mental tricks to give his club an advantage.
"Psychologically, we're in a better position than Hertha and Stuttgart," he told Sport Bild. "Bayern won't lose in Stuttgart. And you could see Hertha had a case of nerves in the 0-0 draw against Gladbach."
Continue reading to find out more about the final matches of the Bundesliga season
Schalke also not yet through
The Royal Blues from Schalke suffered a humiliating 2-1 defeat against their most bitter rivals Dortmund at home last week. Ralf Rangnick's side lie in second place on 60 points --seemingly certain for the second definitive Champions League spot given to a German team.
But if Schalke looses on the road against last place Freiburg -- against whom they have only won two of their last nine games -- and Stuttgart and Hertha win, Schalke fans will experience another nightmare. Instead of the Champion's League, they'll have to settle for the UEFA Cup tournament next season.
"Our destiny is in our own hands," said Rangnick. "If we beat Freiburg we finish second and crown a fine season."
Dortmund, who at winter break were just four points clear of the relegation zone, have put together the second best second leg and could actually capture a UEFA Cup spot. The Bundesliga has gained an extra spot since both Bayern and Schalke are in the German Cup final.
BVB (52 points) play at home against relegated side Rostock but need help from Gladbach who must beat Leverkusen, currently holding the final UEFA Cup slot on 54 points.
Wrapping up the season
The final three matches in the 34th week of the season pit teams lying in the middle to the bottom of the standings, and hence, are not playing for much but a good start in the next season.
Hamburg lost its bid last week to scrap for a chance to play in the UEFA Cup. They host Bochum who will play in the second division next season. Bochum have won only one time at Hamburg.
Wolfsburg, the team that was, after Bayern Munich, the most weeks at the top of the standings (all in the first leg), travel to Bielefeld. In seven previous meetings, Bielefeld has managed to find the net just one time.
Finally, Nuremberg actually has something (or someone) to play for in their last match. Slovak midfielder Marek Mintal watched how Bayern's Roy Makaay pulled to within two goals of him (23 strikes) in the quest for the goal-scoring crown, the Golden Boot. A win against Mainz would also push them past the suprising team from the Rhine city. which trumped all expectations and managed to stay on in the Bundesliga for next season.