The 2023/24 relegation battle: Darmstadt down; Cologne, Mainz and Union Berlin fighting for survival
Two Bundesliga teams will go down automatically, another will get a shot at redemption via the relegation play-off. Find out who's in danger of playing Bundesliga 2 football next season...
How does promotion and relegation work in the Bundesliga?
Position: 18th (relegated)
Points: 17 (32 games)
Goals: 30-76 (-46)
Remaining fixtures: Hoffenheim (h), Borussia Dortmund (a)
Promoted Darmstadt's fate was confirmed with defeat to Heidenheim on Matchday 31. It left them with an unassailable 11-point deficit on the relegation play-off spot, with only three rounds of fixtures remaining.
Watch: Darmstadt relegated after Heidenheim loss
What can be confirmed on Matchday 33?
Position: 17th (automatic relegation)
Points: 24 (32 games)
Goals: 24-54 (-30)
Remaining fixtures: Union Berlin (h), Heidenheim (a)
Ten defeats across the first 16 games cost Steffen Baumgart his job, but 14 points from 16 games under Timo Schultz have given the Billy Goats a slim chance of escaping the automatic drop zone. Back-to-back draws with Mainz and Freiburg, coupled with favourable results elsewhere, kept them afloat on Matchday 32. However, they will be relegated on the penultimate weekend of the season, unless they beat Union.
Watch: Cologne 0-0 Freiburg - highlights
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Position: 16th (promotion/ relegation play-off)
Points: 29 (32 games)
Goals: 33-50 (-17)
Remaining fixtures: Borussia Dortmund (h), Wolfsburg (a)
Mainz took four points from their first three games under Bo Henriksen, before slipping to an 8-1 loss at Bayern Munich. They bounced back with wins over Hoffenheim, Bochum and Darmstadt, and even climbed out of the bottom three with a draw against Freiburg. Two points from meetings with Cologne and Heidenheim have them back in 16th, but automatic relegation will at least be off the table if they beat Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 33, or Cologne don't win against Union.
Watch: Mainz got off to a winning start under Henriksen
Position: 15th (safety)
Points: 30 (32 games)
Goals: 29-54 (-25)
Next fixtures: Cologne (a), Freiburg (h)
Nenad Bjelica provided Union with the desired new coach bounce after replacing Urs Fischer, but they've slipped back into old ways in recent months. Four defeats in their last five mean the Berlin club go to Cologne in serious trouble. If they lose and Mainz get a result against Dortmund, Die Eisernen might need to win against Freiburg on the final day in order to avoid the play-off lottery.
Watch: Union Berlin 3-4 Bochum - highlights
Position: 14th (safety)
Points: 33 (32 games)
Goals: 41-65 (-24)
Remaining fixtures: Bayer Leverkusen (h), Werder Bremen (a)
Bochum were dragged into the relegation dogfight following a run of eight matches without a win that prompted a parting of ways with head coach Thomas Leitsch. Seven points from four games under interim boss Heiko Butscher - a former VfL player - has staved off automatic relegation, with their 4-3 win over Union moving them four points clear of the play-off spot.
Watch: Bochum 3-2 Hoffenheim - highlights
Position: 13th (safety)
Points: 33 (32 games)
Goals: 55-62 (-7)
Next fixtures: Frankfurt (h), Stuttgart (a)
Gladbach have had an inconsistent campaign under Gerardo Seoane, but supporters have at least had value for money: only matches involving have seen more goals (131) than the Foals' 117. Florian Neuhaus's last-minute penalty to secure a 2-2 draw against Werder Bremen on Matchday 32 coupled with Cologne's draw against Freiburg means Gladbach are safe from automatic relegation, but the play-off spot is still in play.
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