The race for Europe: an overview

The scenario:

Given that both of the teams that have reached the final of this season's DFB Cup (Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig) have already secured qualification for next season's Champions League, a 7th place finish in the Bundesliga will be enough to enter the qualification rounds of the Europa League.

The top four places in the Bundesliga ensure direct qualification for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. The teams finishing in 5th and 6th place qualify for the group stage of the Europa League. The team finishing in 7th place will enter the second qualification round for the Europa League.

How things stand:

With two matchdays remaining before the end of the season, TSG Hoffenheim are in 8th place with 51 points - just short of the European places. Both VfL Wolfsburg (7th) and Borussia Mönchengladbach (6th) are ahead of TSG by just a single point. The final Champions League spot is also within reach: Eintracht Frankfurt (4th) and Bayer 04 Leverkusen (5th) are both sitting on 54 points - just three ahead of Hoffenheim. Werder Bremen, for their part, have 47 points and therefore harbour only remote possibilities of a place in next season's Europa League.

There are no head-to-head matches remaining between sides competing for European places. TSG's hopes of qualification are therefore out of their own hands. At least one competitor must slip up if Hoffenheim, who must themselves get as many points on the board as possible, are to play in European competition next season.

One aspect that may play in Hoffenheim's favour is goal difference: TSG's goal difference of +21 is the best of all sides competing for Europe, with Frankfurt (+18) and Leverkusen (+13) coming closest to matching Julian Nagelsmann's side. 

The remaining fixtures :

4. Eintracht Frankfurt (54 points, 59:41 goal difference):

Matchday 33: 1. FSV Mainz 05 (H)

Matchday 34: Bayern Munich (A)

5. Bayer 04 Leverkusen (54 points, 63:50 goal difference):

Matchday 33: FC Schalke 04 (H)

Matchday 34: Hertha BSC (A)

6. Borussia Mönchengladbach (52 points, 51:40 goal difference):

Matchday 33: 1. FC Nürnberg (A)

Matchday 34: Borussia Dortmund (H)

7. VfL Wolfsburg (52 points, 54:46 goal difference):

Matchday 33: VfB Stuttgart (A)

Matchday 34: FC Augsburg (H)

8. TSG Hoffenheim (51 points, 68:47 goal difference):

Matchday 33: Werder Bremen (H)

Matchday 34: Spieltag: 1. FSV Mainz 05 (A)

9. Werder Bremen (47 points, 55:48 goal difference):

Matchday 33: TSG Hoffenheim (A)

Matchday 34: RB Leipzig (H)