25.05.2023Bundesliga

Finale in Bochum: How the Werkself qualify for Europe

The Werkself are away to VfL Bochum on Saturday 27 May (kick-off: 15.30 CEST) in the final Bundesliga match of the season. Bayer 04, seventeenth in the table at the start of October 2022 when Xabi Alonso was appointed, will be looking to qualify for Europe in the match at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion. Here are the possible scenarios...

The Werkself go into Bundesliga matchday 34 sixth in the table. Holding on to that spot is required to qualify for a European competition.

THE TABLE AHEAD OF MATCHDAY 34

5. SC Freiburg (59 points, goal difference +8)

6. Bayer 04 Leverkusen (50, +11)

7. VfL Wolfsburg (49, +10)

8. Eintracht Frankfurt (47, +5)

9. FSV Mainz 05 (45, -1)

THE SCENARIOS

The Werkself have to hold on to sixth place and RB Leipzig have to win the DFB Cup final against Eintracht Frankfurt for Bayer 04 to go through the group stage in the UEFA Europa League.
If Eintracht Frankfurt win the DFB Cup final against RB Leipzig and thereby go through to the Europa League, Bayer 04 would take part in the UEFA Conference League play-offs as the team finishing sixth.
If Bayer 04 end up in seventh place and RB Leipzig win the DFB Cup final against Eintracht Frankfurt then the Werkself would also take part in the UEFA Conference League play-offs.
If Bayer 04 finish seventh and Eintracht Frankfurt win the DFB Cup final against RB Leipzig then the Werkself would not play in a European competition in the forthcoming season.
If Bayer 04 end up eighth in the final table then the Werkself would not play in a European competition in the forthcoming season.

The Werkself will finish sixth in the Bundesliga and thereby be certain of playing in a European competition in the event of...

...a win in Bochum.
...a draw in Bochum if VfL Wolfsburg fail to win against Hertha Berlin.
...a defeat in Bochum if VfL Wolfsburg lose to Hertha Berlin.
...a defeat in Bochum if VfL Wolfsburg draw and end up with a worse goal difference than the Werkself and Eintracht Frankfurt do not catch up with the Werkself goal difference with a big win against SC Freiburg.

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