Bundesliga 2021/22: European qualification, top-flight survival and relegation to Bundesliga 2 - the final-day permutations

UEFA Champions League

The top four qualify automatically for the 2022/22 UEFA Champions League group stage.

1. Bayern Munich (CHAMPIONS, 76 points, +60 goal difference)

2. Borussia Dortmund (RUNNERS-UP, 66, +32)

3. Bayer Leverkusen (61, +32)

4. RB Leipzig (57, +35)

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5. Freiburg (55, +13)

Bayern were confirmed as champions on Matchday 31, while Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen cannot be caught in second and third respectively. That leaves Leipzig in pole position to take the Bundesliga's fourth and final Champions League spot.

A Leipzig victory away to Arminia Bielefeld will seal the deal, no matter how Freiburg fare in Leverkusen. A draw will also get them over the line, given their vastly superior goal difference. A defeat would also suffice, as long as Freiburg don't win. However, Leipzig will drop to fifth if they lose and Freiburg beat Leverkusen.

UEFA Europa League/ UEFA Europa Conference League

The rules state that the team in fifth and the team that wins the DFB Cup qualify directly for the UEFA Europa League group stage. However, as Leipzig and Freiburg are this season's DFB Cup finalists, the team that finishes sixth will be awarded the second Europa League group berth.

Should the DFB Cup winner finish fifth or sixth, there will not be a third Bundesliga team in the Europa League. The team that finishes seventh will instead go into the Europa Conference League play-offs. Ordinarily, it would be the team in sixth, but the aforementioned DFB Cup constellation means a seventh Bundesliga team will get a shot at the Conference League via their domestic standing.

4. RB Leipzig (57, +35)

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5. Freiburg (55, +13)

6. Union Berlin (54, +5)

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7. Cologne (52, +4)

Freiburg's superior goal difference means they are virtually guaranteed Europa League group stage football as a minimum, regardless of the results on Matchday 34. Only a heavy loss in Leverkusen coupled with big wins for Union Berlin and Cologne would bump them down into seventh. Even then, they could still qualify for the Europa League by winning the DFB Cup final.

Union will play in the Europa League groups if they win at home to Bochum, thereby sealing a top-six finish. A draw will also suffice, if Cologne don't win at VfB Stuttgart. If Union draw and Cologne win, goal difference will be decisive. Union currently have the edge by one. They also lead this season's head-to-head, in the event the two teams finish level on points and goal difference.

Cologne must win to have a chance of playing in the Europa League groups, but they also need a favour from Stuttgart. A win for Cologne and Union defeat is the dream scenario. As outlined above, a Cologne win and Union draw brings goal difference and potentially head-to-head records into the equation. If Cologne draw or lose, they will go into the Conference League play-offs.

Teams with only final league positions to play for

8. Hoffenheim (46, +2)

9. Mainz (45, +5)

10. Borussia Mönchengladbach (42, -11)

11. Bochum (42, -13)

12. Eintracht Frankfurt* (41, -4)

13. Wolfsburg (41, -11)

14. Augsburg (35, -18)

*Frankfurt will join the Bundesliga's top-four teams in the 2022/23 Champions League groups, if the beat Glasgow Rangers in the Europa League final on 18 May.

Relegation

Fürth are already down. For all intents and purposes, so too are Bielefeld, given their inferior goal difference. That leaves Hertha and Stuttgart to fight it out at a distance in a bid to avoid a two-legged relegation play-off against the team that finishes third in Bundesliga 2.

15. Hertha Berlin (33, -33)

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16. VfB Stuttgart (relegation play-offs, 30, -19)

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17. Arminia Bielefeld (automatic relegation, 27, -26)

18. Greuther Fürth (automatic relegation, 18, -53)

The equation for Hertha is simple: avoid defeat in Dortmund to secure another season of top-flight football. Stuttgart, on the other hand, need to win at home to Cologne and hope BVB beat Hertha in order to climb above the waterline at the Old Lady's expense - on goal difference. If Stuttgart draw or lose, they will be unmoved and contest the play-offs. Hertha - who could yet finish 14th if they win and Augsburg lose to Fürth - will be safe.

No matter the results on the final day, Hertha cannot be relegated automatically. Stuttgart can - at a stretch - but only if they get tonked by Cologne and Bielefeld record a commanding win over Leipzig. There are currently seven goals between them. In the unlikely event Stuttgart and Arminia are tied for points and goal difference, Bielefeld would go into the play-offs on account of their head-to-head record (W1, D1). VfB would be relegated automatically.

>>> Click here for the Bundesliga 2 promotion race lowdown!

About the clubs SC Freiburg

Europa-Park Stadion

FC Bayern München

Allianz Arena

Eintracht Frankfurt

Deutsche Bank Park

VfB Stuttgart

Mercedes-Benz Arena

VfL Wolfsburg

Volkswagen Arena

VfL Bochum 1848

Vonovia Ruhrstadion

TSG Hoffenheim

PreZero Arena

FC Augsburg

WWK ARENA

Hertha Berlin

Olympiastadion

1. FC Köln

RheinEnergieSTADION

Borussia Dortmund

SIGNAL IDUNA PARK

SpVgg Greuther Fürth

Sportpark Ronhof | Thomas Sommer

RB Leipzig

Red Bull Arena

1. FC Union Berlin

An der Alten Försterei

1. FSV Mainz 05

MEWA ARENA

Borussia M'gladbach

BORUSSIA-PARK

Arminia Bielefeld

SchücoArena

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