The penultimate weekend of the 2013/14 Bundesliga season. Everything could be done and dusted, or we go down to the final Matchday. As this is the Bundesliga however, expect the latter...
Matchday 33: Fixtures
Hamburg - Bayern Munich
Nuremberg - Hannover
Monchengladbach - Mainz
Stuttgart - Wolfsburg
Braunschweig - Augsburg
Frankfurt - Leverkusen
Dortmund - Hoffenheim
Freiburg - Schalke
Werder Bremen - Hertha Berlin
Hamburg - Bayern Munich (Saturday)
With Stuttgart 5 points clear in the final automatic safety position, the emphasis for Hamburg now is to keep Nuremberg and Braunschweig behind them and at least give themselves a chance of survival in the relegation/promotion play-off - the 3rd-placed side in 2.Bundesliga. The champions have made the long journey north, yet since wrapping up a record 23rd Bundesliga title, they have been nowhere near their brilliant best, highlighted in their humiliating Champions League dethroning by the sheer dominance of Real Madrid. Their focus will now be on the Pokal final in a fortnight's time, although Pep Guardiola will be hoping that his side can rebuild the momentum before the Berlin finale.
Prediction: The onus and pressure is on Hamburg. Yet after their embarrassment on Tuesday night, Bayern may well just take out their frustrations on Mirko Slomka and his men. Hamburg 1-3 Bayern Munich.
Nuremberg - Hannover (Saturday)
Bayern will be deemed favourites for that encounter at the Imtech, so Nuremberg will be hoping to take advantage of any slip-ups for the Northerners, and move themselves into pole position to claim the relegation play-off spot. The problem for the Bavarians is that they are in an awful run of form, having lost nine of their previous ten. Opponents Hannover know they will be playing top-flight football next season, and with nothing left to play for, that could just play into the hands of Nuremberg. Their away form has once again been the big problem in this campaign, picking up just 10 points on the road, yet they did win at Frankfurt on their last trip away from the HDI-Arena.
Prediction: Five defeats in a row, but with Hannover already assured of survival, I think Nuremberg are going to get over the line here in a nervy, narrow victory. Nuremberg 1-0 Hannover.
Monchengladbach - Mainz (Saturday)
Both these teams have had excellent campaigns, yet 4th place and Champions League football looks as if it is just out of reach for Gladbach and Mainz. However, both could be celebrating qualification for next season's Europa League come full-time at Borussia-Park. Gladbach impressively won at Schalke on Matchday 32 (their first win in Gelsenkirchen in 22 years), whilst Mainz won their 3rd consecutive home match without conceding as they overcame Nuremberg. Two points separate the sides, and despite both almost guaranteed Europa League football, this match is still vastly important, as it could determine where they will enter the competition.
Prediction: Gladbach's home form has been nowhere near as impressive in the Ruckrunde as it was in the Hindrunde, and that's why Mainz will get something here. Monchengladbach 1-1 Mainz.
Stuttgart - Wolfsburg (Saturday)
It's quite simple for Stuttgart: beat Wolfsburg and they're safe. Unbeaten in four, and winning their last two at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, means confidence is high amongst the Stuttgart ranks. Huub Stevens and his players though will want to guarantee survival this weekend, especially with a trip to Bayern on the final day. But it won't be easy, especially against a Wolfsburg side who still have Champions League football in their sights. They would have been hugely disappointed though to twice throw away an advantage at home to Freiburg, and their disappointment was added further as rivals Leverkusen also drew. They're a point off of 4th, yet Wolfsburg must focus on themselves.
Prediction: This is the game of Matchday 33 where there is probably most riding on it. I don't think they will be separated, yet the point will suit the hosts more. Stuttgart 1-1 Wolfsburg.
Braunschweig - Augsburg (Saturday)
Not many thought that Braunschweig would still be in a position where they could survive come the penultimate weekend of the campaign. Many would have seen them bottom (and that is the case), and although it looks as if their fighting efforts are going to be in vain, they certainly not given in. Europa League football is still just about alive for Augsburg, and like Braunschweig, it looks as if their aim is just going to get away from them. That shouldn't however take away from the fact they have continued to surprise and have continued to impress in the Bundesliga this season. No wonder then that Markus Weinzierl is being discussed by plenty for manager of the year.
Prediction: Neither are going to be ultimately awarded then for their efforts. The Bavarians will leave Lower Saxony with maximum points. Braunschweig 0-2 Augsburg.
Frankfurt - Leverkusen (Saturday)
This will be the final home game in charge for Armin Veh, but it will be one he can afford to enjoy, having, thanks to Hamburg's loss at Augsburg, confirmed their top-flight status for another campaign. They're one of four teams on 36 points, and although there is nothing really to play for, they will want to finish as high as they can possibly can. For Leverkusen, another season of Champions League football is almost theirs, and despite twice throwing away leads to Dortmund, Sascha Lewandowski would have probably take a point from that match before it started. Having seen Schalke lose the next day, 3rd place, and the final spot in the Champions League group stages, may just still be within their capabilities.
Prediction: The Frankfurt players will want to give Veh a winning send-off from the Commerzbank-Arena, but I believe Leverkusen will be the party-poopers. Frankfurt 1-2 Leverkusen.
Dortmund - Hoffenheim (Saturday)
For the 2nd season in succession, Dortmund take the title of 'best of the rest' behind Bayern, after twice equalising in Leverkusen, coupled with Gladbach's win at Schalke, means 2nd place is theirs. They still have the Pokal final to come, and want to keep this momentum going, especially Robert Lewandowski, who will be playing his final game in a BVB shirt at the Westfalenstadion. For Hoffenheim, they have fond memories of the Signal-Iduna Park, having amazingly won in Dortmund on the final day of last season, claiming the relegation play-off spot, subsequently surviving. They're not under any relegation threat this time around, although they still want to finish in the top-half.
Prediction: Dortmund have the in-form man in the Bundesliga right now in the form of Marco Reus, and the man with the infamous blonde hair will shine once again. Dortmund 4-2 Hoffenheim.
Freiburg - Schalke (Saturday)
This was of course a Champions League play-off on the final day of the 2012/13 campaign, and despite this not being as important, both teams will still be giving it their all come Saturday afternoon. Freiburg have won their last four on home soil, and have lost just once in their last eight; form good enough to keep them in the top-flight for another season. Schalke will just be looking over their shoulders slightly, following the Matchday 32 disappointment to Gladbach, yet Jens Keller and his squad know that three points in the south-west will confirm their place in the Champions League once again; the Gelsenkirchen outfit currently in the 3rd and final spot for the group stages.
Prediction: This will be a tough test for Schalke in Baden-Wurttemberg, and although I don't think they will win, I can see them getting something out of the encounter. Freiburg 1-1 Schalke.
Werder Bremen - Hertha Berlin (Saturday)
Bremen were twice in front at the Allianz Arena a weekend ago, and despite, in the end, being on the end of a 5-2 scoreline to Bayern, the Northerners were relived that their rivals Hamburg lost on the Sunday, meaning they were out of any relegation danger. Hertha were winners on Matchday 32; the 2-0 success against bottom of the table Braunschweig was their first win in ten outings. The capital club's form has well and truly dipped in the Ruckrunde, yet they're still battling Hoffenheim for what appears to be the 9th and final spot in the Bundesliga's top-half, one in which they would most certainly would have taken at the start of the campaign.
Prediction: Not much to play for here really other than pride. For the neutrals, let's hope that brings with it an entertaining encounter. Werder Bremen 2-2 Hertha Berlin.