Bundesliga title settled, but Schalke, Leverkusen two more chase Champions League

As the Bundesliga comes to a close, Schalke and Bayer Leverkusen are joined by hopefuls Wolfsburg and Borussia Monchengladbach in the hunt for Germany's two up-for-grabs Champions League spots.

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Reuters

Four teams are fighting for the chance to play in the Champions League next season as the Bundesliga finale on Saturday promises a nail-biting climax and a battle for Hamburg to avoid their first ever relegation.

Third-placed Schalke, three points ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, have the best chances to keep their place with a win over 17th-placed Nurnberg and grab the last automatic Champions League group stage spot.

Schalke, who competed in Europe’s premier club competition this season as well, could successfully complete a roller-coaster season with a strong finish.

They could be boosted by the presence of captain Benedikt Howedes, back from injury as the defender races to be fit this week.

“I really want to help the team reach its goal,” said Howedes after returning to team training this week following more than a month out with a muscle injury.

“I feel 100 percent and I have full confidence that I can play from the start. But at the end this is not about me but about the club.”

“We only need a point but we will play to win with our attacking game.”

Schalke will also have winger Jefferson Farfan back but will be without suspended top striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

Their opponents are desperate for a win that could possibly see them snatch the relegation-playoff spot from Hamburg, who are a point ahead in 16th.

Combined with a Leverkusen win against visiting Werder Bremen that is also the only scenario for Schalke to miss out on the third spot.

With the fourth place leading to the Champions League qualifying rounds, Leverkusen will have to keep an eye on the rear view mirror with Wolfsburg and Borussia Monchengladbach in with a chance to finish fourth.

In-form Wolfsburg, in fifth place a point behind Leverkusen, take on Gladbach in a crunch match with Borussia two further points behind in sixth.

At the other end of the table Hamburg’s stadium clock counting the total years, months, days and hours the team has been in the Bundesliga would have to be turned back to zero if they fail to equal or better the results of Nurnberg and last-placed Eintracht Braunschweig.

Former European champions Hamburg, a point ahead of Nurnberg and two above Braunschweig, are the only team to have played every season in the Bundesliga since the league’s creation in 1963, rightfully earning the nickname ‘dinosaur’.

When they travel to European hopefuls Mainz on Saturday their thoughts will only be on holding on to the Bundesliga lifeline as they cannot catch up 15th-placed Stuttgart any more to secure an automatic Bundesliga spot for next season.

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