Bundesliga run-in round up: Gripping battle for title and European spots

With every team preparing to embark on their final eight games of the Bundesliga campaign, we take a look at the places that matter and predict just how the season may pan out.

TITLE RACE

There’s no question that this is a two-team battle now, with Bayern fans - having sunk as low as fifth in mid-November - no doubt relieved to be back in the running to say the very least. The holders are back on top in fact following a run of six straight victories and 13 from their last 14 in Germany’s top-flight stretching further back.

The Bavarians are only ahead of rivals Borussia Dortmund on goal difference as things stand but a seven-point swing over the last six matches has ensured Niko Kovac’s side are strong favourites once more. It’s BVB that boast the more favourable run-in on paper though, so the outcome of Der Klassiker in just over a week’s time may well be decisive. The victor of that game will almost certainly win the league!

Prediction: Bayern Munich

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

The top two are all but guaranteed a Champions League finish, which leaves just two more spots up for grabs, set to be contested by five teams separated by seven points. RB Leipzig are third as things stand, two clear of a Gladbach side on a worrying slide.

The former’s defensive record - the best in the division by a distance - could well be their ticket back into the tournament they missed out on last year by just two points, but the latter are only heading in one direction. For a long time Dortmund’s closest competition at the top, Gladbach have picked up just five points from the last 18 available and are at real risk of dropping out of the European places altogether.

Frankfurt, by contrast, are on the charge and enjoying a superb season under new coach Adi Hutter, unbeaten in nine league matches including four successive wins before the international break. They are three points shy of Leipzig in third, just one off Gladbach and four clear of Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg, who have a faint shot at a top four push.

Prediction: Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt

EUROPA LEAGUE

The latter pairing are more likely to be battling for Europa League spots next season, with B04 above the Wolves in sixth on goal difference, though defeat to Werder Bremen last time out was a blow to Peter Bosz’s side. Florian Kohfeldt’s men are just three points back and in fine form having gone nine unbeaten, while Hoffenheim are a point further back and still in with a real shot if they can turn their tendency to draw matches into a winning habit.

Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen and Hoffenheim

RELEGATION

Having gone 20 games without a win Nuernberg are all but gone, while Hannover’s dreadful run of nine defeats in ten should see them heading for the trap door to boot. Stuttgart have a significantly better chance of beating the drop despite what has been a woeful season to now, while Schalke look to be in desperate trouble.

Last season’s Bundesliga runners up have slid within three points of the relegation play-off spot (16th) following just a solitary point from their last seven league games. Augsburg - two points above - aren’t out of danger either but it’s S04 - who have five sides in the top half battling for places still to play that could be headed for a showdown with Bundesliga II’s third placed team. It may all come down to the last day of the season - when Schalke and Stuttgart just happen to face off! Nail-biting stuff.

Prediction: Hannover, Nuernberg and Schalke (play-off)