The season’s final matchday delivers the verdict that’s been looming for weeks: Wolfsburg, 1. FC Heidenheim, and FC St. Pauli are deadlocked on points, battling for 16th place – the last chance to survive. VfL Wolfsburg are the narrow favorites.
In the direct showdown at the Millerntor against St. Pauli (Saturday, 3:30 PM/Sky), a win would all but secure the Wolves’ safety – unless Heidenheim pull off an attacking masterclass against Mainz 05 to overturn their three-goal deficit in goal difference. Wolfsburg boss Dieter Hecking is upbeat: “We knew a game like this could come. And now we’re ready for it.”
St. Pauli’s Alexander Blessin still clings to hope of a miracle, despite nine winless games in a row – but his side’s fate is no longer in their own hands. Even a win might not be enough unless Heidenheim fail to beat Mainz or do so by a smaller margin.
Heidenheim’s Frank Schmidt, meanwhile, dreams of a fairytale finish to a stunning turnaround: “Staying up would be a miracle. But what’s the point if you don’t believe in miracles?” Just weeks ago, Heidenheim’s relegation after three top-flight years – including European football – seemed inevitable. Now, anything is possible.
“This is a nerve-shredding finale – it could go down to the wire,” says Schmidt. Interwetten pundit Lothar Matthäus, however, has written off Heidenheim’s chances. The German record cap-holder predicts a draw for Heidenheim and a crucial win for Wolfsburg. The predictions:
FC St. Pauli – VfL Wolfsburg 1:2
1. FC Heidenheim – Mainz 05 1:1
Eintracht Frankfurt – VfB Stuttgart 1:2
Borussia Mönchengladbach – TSG Hoffenheim 1:1
Bayer Leverkusen – Hamburger SV 2:0
SC Freiburg – RB Leipzig 1:1
Union Berlin – FC Augsburg 2:1
Bayern München – 1. FC Köln 4:1
Werder Bremen – Borussia Dortmund 2:2
