What's at stake on the final matchday of the Bundesliga?

German top-flight sides head into action for the final time of the season at 15:30 CET, as the 2024/25 Bundesliga draws to a conclusion on Saturday afternoon. Bayern Munich conquered the shield with two games to spare, while Holstein Kiel and Bochum sealed their relegations to the second tier with their respective defeats against Freiburg and Mainz.

Champions League

That said, the battle for the European places is well alive on the final day. Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen have mathematically wrapped up Champions League qualification for next season, but there are still two spots up for grabs, as Eintracht Frankfurt, Freiburg, and Borussia Dortmund are all in contention to claim it, with only three points separating them.

Eintracht Frankfurt

Frankfurt are the better-placed side of the trio. Sitting in third with 57 points, they only need to avoid defeat against Freiburg, though they would still seal Champions League football if Dortmund lose against Hostel Kiel. Should BVB (+17) win and Frankfurt (+20) lose, goal difference may still save the Eaglies, as they hold a slight advantage.

Freiburg

Freiburg are also masters of their own destiny as they sit fourth with 55 points. But their task of sealing victory against fellow chasers Frankfurt, has been made harder due to qualification being at stake for both. Matching Dortmund's result against Kiel would be enough for them to earn access to next season's edition of the Champions League. They will miss out if they draw and Kovac's men win or draw due to their significantly worse goal difference.

Borussia Dortmund

The Black and Yellow are having to salvage their rollercoaster season on the final day. Sitting in fifth with 54 points, winning against Holstein Kiel by two goals or more would be enough for them to enter the top four and qualify for the Champions League. If they win by only one goal, Dortmund would need Frankfurt to win, but  Freiburg winning by two goals or more would also get the job done. If they draw, they would need Freiburg to lose against Frankfurt.

Conference League

The Europa League spot will almost certainly go to the team that does not qualify for the Champions League. It could only go to someone else if Borussia Dortmund lose and either one of Mainz or RB Leipzig win by overtaking BVB on goal difference. Therefore, the other big battle is focused on the Conference League place.

Mainz 05

Sixth-placed Mainz currently occupy the Conference League spot on 51 points and a +12 goal difference. Access to the Conference would be granted if they beat Leverkusen and maintain a higher goal difference after an RB Leipzig win over Stuttgart (+6). The same applies if both sides lose, with a draw also resulting enough.

RB Leipzig

Leipzig have endured an underwhelming campaign this time out, but they can still be in Europe next season. Rose's side either need to win against Stuttgart by a larger margin than Mainz 05, or overtake Mainz on goal difference. The latter is harder as six goals separate them, meaning he most plausible scenario is for them to win and Mainz to either lose or draw. A draw for Leipzig would be enough if their direct rivals lose.

Werder Bremen

The task of sealing Conference League qualification is practically impossible for Werder Bremen. The River Islanders, who pay a visit to Heidenheim on the final day, are three points behind Mainz and Leipzig and have to overcome an 18-goal deficit to the former and a 12-goal deficit to the latter.

Relegation play-offs

Two teams have been mathematically relegated to 2. Bundesliga, but one remains to be decided. The team that finishes 16th in the Bundesliga will play the third-placed team in 2. Bundesliga in the promotion/relegation play-off.  St Pauli, Hoffenheim and Heidenheim are all fighting to avoid it. On paper, Heidenheim are the most likely to end up in it, but a miracle could save them. 

The 16th-placed side (-24) would need a win against Bremen, hope that one of St Pauli (-11) or Hoffenheim (-18) lose, and also pray to catch up on goal difference. Meanwhile, the task is much simpler for St Pauli and Hoffenheim. Even defeat would be enough for them to play in the Bundesliga next term, as they hold a +13 and +6 advantage on Heidenheim, respectively, in terms of goal difference.