There are 4 teams still fighting to stay in the Bundesliga. One of them has a relatively good position, while the other 3 teams are fighting for survival. At the bottom of the table is Darmstadt 98 with 13 points. Above them is 1. FC Köln with 18 points, and in the 16th place, which would lead to a relegation playoff against the 3rd team from the 2nd Bundesliga, is Mainz 05 with 20 points. In the 15th place is VFL Bochum with 25 points, which should be enough to stay in the league directly. The question is, who has the best chances and who has the easiest remaining fixtures.Here’s an overview of the remaining fixtures for the last 4 teams:Darmstadt 98:VFL Bochum vs. Darmstadt Mainz vs. Darmstadt Darmstadt vs. Freiburg 1.FC Köln vs. Darmstadt Darmstadt vs.Heidenheim. Wolfsburg vs.Darmstadt/ Darmstadt vs. Hoffenheim Köln:Augsburg vs. Köln / Köln vs. Bochum / Bayern Munich vs. Köln / Köln vs. Darmstadt 98 / Mainz vs. Köln / Köln vs. Freiburg / Köln vs. Union Berlin / Heidenheim vs. Köln
Mainz 05:Mainz vs. Darmstadt 98 /Mainz vs. Hoffenheim / Freiburg vs. Mainz / Mainz vs. Köln / Heidenheim vs. Mainz / Mainz vs. Dortmund / Wolfsburg vs. Mainz
VFL Bochum:Bochum vs. Darmstadt 98 / Köln vs. Bochum / Bochum vs. Heidenheim / Wolfsburg vs. Bochum / Bochum vs. Hoffenheim / Union Berlin vs. Bochum / Bochum vs. Bayer Leverkusen / Werder Bremen vs. Bochum. FC Köln seems to have the easiest remaining fixtures. The team from Cologne has the potential to achieve this, but they also need to start winning games as their performances haven’t been bad, but they haven’t capitalized on the opportunities. Mainz 05 has also been performing better since the change in management, but things aren’t perfect there either. Darmstadt 98’s situation looks dire. They are at the bottom of the table with a 7-point gap to the relegation playoff spot. VFL Bochum has the most realistic chance of staying in the league, as they have a 5-point gap to the 16th place and a 7-point gap to the direct relegation spot. Their performance hasn’t been perfect either, but they still have the best chances. Both Mainz 05 and 1. FC Köln underwent a change in management around the same time. This change has had some positive impact on both teams, but whether it will be enough remains to be seen. For 1. FC Köln, relegation would be particularly dramatic as they are in a very poor financial situation, and relegation would not necessarily improve matters. Additionally, they are under a transfer ban. They were unable to buy any players in the winter of 2024 and will not be allowed to do so in the summer either. They can only make transfers again in January 2025, which is drastic for the club. They need to stay in the league to keep the club alive.