Three things we learnt from Bundesliga Matchday 34 (the final day) – Wolfsburg get a second chance, the European places are decided and Albert Riera’s time is over |
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Soccer·Recap
Three things we learnt from Bundesliga Matchday 34 (the final day) – Wolfsburg get a second chance, the European places are decided and Albert Riera’s time is over
Bundesliga Matchday 34 concluded with Wolfsburg earning a second chance, the European spots finalized, and Albert Riera's tenure ending. Key results determined relegation and European competition placements.
Key points
Wolfsburg gets a second chance in Bundesliga
European places are finalized after Matchday 34
Albert Riera's time as coach ends
Final day featured crucial matches for relegation and European spots
Teams included Bayern Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Borussia Dortmund
Three things we learnt from Bundesliga Matchday 34 (the final day) – Wolfsburg get a second chance, the European places are decided and Albert Riera’s time is over
Three things we learnt from Bundesliga Matchday 34 (the final day) – Wolfsburg get a second chance, the European places are decided and Albert Riera’s time is over
After 33 matchdays, we now find ourselves here, the final day of the Bundesliga season, and there is still plenty left to play for.
Still on the line is the final Champions League spot, which team will play in the Conference League and the most important thing, who will automatically be relegated.
The day was set up nicely. Wolfsburg is playing St.Pauli whilst Heidenheim faced Mainz, all level on 26 points. However, Heidenheim’s unlikely survival was over quickly when Mainz opened the scoring early on, and they would go on to lose 2-0.
This meant it was a shootout between Wolfsburg and St.Pauli at the Millerntor to decide who would get the relegation playoff spot.
Konstantinos Koulierakis made it 1-0, but the Hamburg side would quickly equalise. However, in the second half, luck would be on Wolfsburg’s side as a second goal would not be overturned by VAR, and then Dzenan Pejcinovic would make it 3-1 to secure the relegation playoff spot.
The team who has one of the worst net spends in the league will get a second chance. Later this week, on the 21st/22nd May, they will play the third-place team in the 2.Bundesliga in the first leg of the relegation playoff.
Considering that history is on their side heading into the playoffs, it is likely that Wolfsburg will maintain their Bundesliga status and continue to spend vast amounts of money just to be a mid-table side.
Bundesliga relegation playoff: Wolfsburg
Relegated to the 2.Bundesliga: Heidenheim and St.Pauli
The European places are decided:
As well as relegation, there was still a Champions League place and a Conference League place up for grabs.
Despite a late goal scored by Frankfurt (more on them next), Stuttgart are in the Champions League once again after Bayer Leverkusen drew 1-1 with Hamburg, and Hoffenheim somehow lost 4-0 to Borussia Mönchengladbach (a fun sub-plot is Haris Tabakovic, who is on loan at Gladbach from Hoffenheim, scored a brace in this game).
The UCL qualification will be a good base for Stuttgart to continue to build on, and with a DFB Pokal final next weekend, they are building some nice momentum to take into next season.
While Augsburg was in contention for a Conference League spot, they were comfortably beaten by Union Berlin, which meant it was Freiburg’s for the taking. A 4-1 win against RB Leipzig confirms they will at least be in the Conference League next season, but with the biggest game in their history on Wednesday, they could also be in the Champions League next season.
If that does happen, the Bundesliga will lose its Conference League spot.
**Champions League:**Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Stuttgart
Europa League: Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen
Conference League: Freiburg*
Albert Riera’s time is up at Frankfurt:
Last weekend, Jonathan Burkardt is said to have called Albert Riera a ‘puta madre’ when he scored a late consolation against Borussia Dortmund. This weekend, a Burkardt brace rescued a point for die Adler in a meaningless game.
However, before the game, when Riera’s name was read out by the stadium announcer at Deutsche Bank Park, it was met by vast boos from the Frankfurt crowd. Adding to this, there were then banners aimed against the Spaniard during the game and after it, with a banner saying ‘nada de gracias Alberto’
Which is a pretty daming endictment of what will likely be Riera’s short spell with Frankfurt.
Expect him to be sacked within the coming days.
Elsewhere around the Bundesliga:
Bayern Munich lifted the title today and did it in style, beating 1.FC Köln 5-1. The cockatoo was obviously present, while the club also said goodbye to Leon Goretzka.
Finally, in the game everyone forgot was actually happening, Borussia Dortmund beat Werder Bremen 2-0, with goals from Serhou Guirassy and Yan Couto.
Thank you for reading the last 34 editions of the three things we learnt in the Bundesliga. I will now place myself in hibernation for the next three months (after the DFB Pokal final) and will return when the Bundesliga returns on August 28th for the 2026/27 season.
