Matchday 33 – Ingolstadt Relegated

Last week the clock ran out on Darmstadt’s time in the Bundesliga’s top division. This week it was Ingolstadt’s turn. They needed a victory against SC Freiburg to keep their chances of remaining in the top division for one more week. All Ingostadt could manage was a 1-1 draw. This puts them at 31 points for the season, four points behind Hamburg with only one more game to play. Hamburg earned a 1-1 draw against Schalke, but they remain on the relegation bubble. They are only two points behind Mainz, Wolfsburg, and Augsburg. Mainz is safe and will play in the top division next season. They have a better goal difference than Wolfsburg and Augsburg, who have a single goal separating the two. For Hamburg, it’s very simple. They need to beat Wolfsburg next week. If they do, they will avoid the relegation playoff and will play in the top division next season. If they lose, they are in the relegation playoff against the third-place finisher in Bundesliga 2. It is also easy for Wolfsburg – beat Hamburg and they remain in the top division. The same goes for Augsburg – if they beat Hoffenheim, they’re safe for next year. But if both they and Wolfsburg lose, the goal difference will decide who plays in the relegation playoff.