Bundesliga State of Play: Who's Chasing the Title, Who's After European Football & Who Could Get Relegated

It's happening, it's finally happening.

After two months of Premier League (and general sport) starvation, we're finally going to be treated to top level football that doesn't come with either the words 'recap', 'classic' or 'rewind' and hasn't been virtually displayed on a monitor.

That's right, the Bundesliga is back this weekend. Text your mates and tell them you can't do this weekend's zoom quiz, get the beers chilled in the fridge, free up your (presumably already) empty diary and brace for ACTUAL FOOTBALL.

If you haven't already stared endlessly at the table and memorised each side's points totals, goals conceded and recent form, then fear not, we've got you covered.

Here's your guide to everything that's left to play for in the Bundesliga, ahead of its hotly anticipated return on Saturday, 16 May.

Who Is Vying for the Title?

The usual suspects find themselves in the hunt for the ultimate prize once more, but there has been a breath of fresh air in the league this season with the addition of two other title hopefuls.

As you'd imagine, Bayern Munich lead the way with nine matches to go, although this hasn't been the case for the whole season. Surprise package Borussia Mönchengladbach were leading the pack for a good long while, with the inventive style of play that Marco Rose has instilled catching the rest of the league off guard early on.

Their slight drop off in form has coincided with Bayern's upturn, and now Die Roten lead the way with 55 points after 25 played. Hans-Dieter Flick has got his side firing on all cylinders once more, winning ten of their last 11 matches in the league and scoring a ridiculous amount of goals along the way - mostly Robert Lewandowski, in fairness.

Sunday is when they're next in action, which may add some pressure given their fellow title rivals all play on Saturday.

Just below them are Borussia Dortmund, who have struggled for consistency throughout the campaign but still remain firmly in the hunt for a first league title since 2012. Just before the season was brought to a halt they secured a valuable 2-1 away win over Mönchengladbach, which left them four points adrift of Bayern on 51 points.

A local derby is next up for them, which will be a vital three points if they're to keep themselves on course for the title.

RB Leipzig, fronted by the much-talked about Timo Werner, are launching their most legitimate title bid to date - despite a previous second place finish - currently sitting on 50 points ahead of the weekend's fixtures.

They've drawn the most matches of the top four sides with eight, and their last two games followed the same vein. Draws with Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen saw them lose ground on the leaders, but the way they've played this season means they're by no means out of the race.

Needing to maintain the pressure on the two above them, hosting the side in eighth this weekend will give them an opportunity to do so.

Going back to Mönchengladbach, Rose's men survived a slight wobble in mid-season to pick themselves up and have lost just one of their previous seven matches. Goals haven't been as forthcoming for them as their title rivals, but they know how to battle for victories and should not be discounted from securing top spot.

As they're the late kick off on Saturday against a side in the bottom half, they could either make inroads towards top spot should their rivals slip up, or be in desperate need to secure victory and avoid slipping further away.

Who Is Battling for a European Place?

The Bundesliga are granted two Europa League places to the sides who finish fifth and sixth in the table, who at present are Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke 04.

Some may argue that Leverkusen, who are just adrift of Mönchengladbach on 47 points, might be harshly discounted from the title race, but the likelihood is they will miss out on that prize given the top four clubs' added quality. Nevertheless, there is nothing to say they can't secure a Champions League spot given the strong run of form they've shown in the league.

The same doesn't apply to Schalke, who are sitting on 37 points in the current state of play. A top four spot might be in their sights, but it's more likely that they'll have to make do with a Europa League berth.

Competiton comes in the form of four (maybe five) sides, as the race for Europe hots up. VfL Wolfsburg and Freiburg both sit on 36 points, making this particular area of the table enticing viewing ahead of the final stretch.

Hoffenheim and FC Köln are next down the line on 35 and 32 points respectively, but the latter have lost their last two matches and are in danger of slipping further afield.

FC Union Berlin will also count themselves in the running with 30 points which, if achieved, would be a monumental result for the club in what is their first ever venture in the German top flight.

Who Is in a Relegation Battle?

One side whose fortunes seem bleakest at present is SC Paderborn 07. Also promoted from the second division last season, they sit rock bottom on 16 points. They've accrued just four points from the last 24 available, and while it's not out of the question for them to pull off a great escape, it does look increasingly unlikely - victory over the side currently in 16th when the season restarts will be vital.

It seems losing Max Kruse has dealt a killer blow to Werder Bremen, who are on the brink of dropping out of the top flight for the first time since the 1980/81 season. Sitting on a lowly 18 points with ten matches left to play, they will need to sort out their torrid defence record - the worst in the league - if they are to stand any chance of escaping the drop, which seemed impossible after their eighth-place finish last term.

Currently sat in the relegation playoff spot are Fortuna Düsseldorf, who are the joint-lowest scoring side in the division this campaign. Their 22 point haul is worrying, but one loss in their last five means they may have turned a corner in their bid to survive relegation.

They will need to start turning draws into wins if they are to catch Mainz, who are above them in 15th with 26 points. They too were in a perilous position, but eight points from their last five matches has seen them sneak into safety. That by no means offers them the chance to ease off, though, as their four point lead over Fortuna could be wiped out in the blink of an aye.

The same applies to Augsburg on 27 points, as well as Hertha Berlin on 28 points. Neither side are safe from relegation, and Hertha's dreadful recent defensive record is seeing them dragged back into the mix - despite the money they've flung around this season.

Remarkably, having touted them as one of the sides potentially in the running for a European place, Union Berlin also fall under the relegation category. Sitting seven points adrift of sixth spot but also only eight away from 17th, the upcoming results they secure could have a huge bearing on what aspirations they set for the remainder of the campaign.

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