The relegation battle in the Bundesliga remains exciting with eight games to go before the end of the season. Six points separate table bottom VfB Stuttgart and 14th Bochum before the games on the Easter weekend. On Sunday there will be two groundbreaking games with the direct duels between Bochum and Stuttgart and between Hoffenheim and Schalke.
This is the situation for the clubs threatened with relegation:
VfL Bochum
After seven points from the last three games, VfL Bochum has gained a cushion in the relegation battle with 26 points. “As long as we get points, we’ll stay in the league,” said coach Thomas Letsch before the game against VfB Stuttgart at the bottom of the table on Sunday (5:30 p.m. / DAZN). With six wins from the last eight home games, the Revierelf goes into the game with confidence. “It’s a game that can take us very far from a competitor,” said Letsch. “If we give 100 per cent, it’s difficult for any team to win against us.”
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
With the last two wins in a row, the Kraichgauers have left the relegation zone for the time being. But the situation for coach Pellegrino Matarazzo’s team remains tricky, as the lead over Hertha BSC in relegation rank 16 is only three points. The duel against FC Schalke 04, who are penultimate in the table and have four points fewer, is therefore trend-setting. Especially since a direct competitor can be clearly distanced with another win. “The lads know what’s ahead and are excited for the game. We want to put on a great game,” said Matarazzo.
Hertha BSC
The well-deserved point win in the 1-1 win in Freiburg gave Hertha a lot of self-confidence, even if the draw did not result in the relegation rank being left. The team of Hertha trainer Sandro Schwarz, who demands “maximum readiness” in the evening game on Saturday (6:30 p.m. / Sky), should do more against RB Leipzig. In view of the six defeats in all six home games against RB, the Berliners are already looking at the rest of the program with the home games against Werder Bremen, VfB Stuttgart and VfL Bochum as well as the away games at FC Schalke 04 and 1. FC Köln, in which the could collect the necessary points in the fight for relegation rather than against the feared opponent, who could only be defeated once so far.
FC Schalke 04
After the first half of the season, the Gelsenkircheners were in last place. With an impressive run of eight games in a row without defeat, coach Thomas Reis’ team once again had a realistic chance of staying up. Despite the first defeat in the second half of the season against Bayer Leverkusen last weekend, S04 are confident in the game against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. “We have it in our own hands,” stressed Reis, who is looking forward to exceptional support. Up to 15,000 Schalke fans are expected in Sinsheim. “Everyone wants to contribute to staying up in the league. Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps again,” said the 49-year-old.
VfB Stuttgart
Sebastian Hoeneß is already the fourth coach to sit on the VfB bench this season – and the last hope of bottom of the table. After his successful debut in the DFB Cup quarter-finals at second division 1. FC Nürnberg (1-0) on Wednesday, the 40-year-old now wants to take the momentum into the relegation battle. In the league, the Swabians have only got one point from the last five games. According to Hoeneß, in Bochum they now have “the chance to get a better starting position in the table and to bring in another team.” A win on Sunday could revive VfB again. In the event of a defeat, hopes of salvation are likely to gradually fade.
