Top match Round-up: Implications at both ends of the Bundesliga table

Borussia Dortmund’s remarkable Europa League exit will dominate talk in Germany for the days to come, but attentions must swiftly turn back to the league action where there are matches with big implications at both ends of the Bundesliga table.

Hannover vs Gladbach – Friday, 19:30 KO

This fixture may not be the most glamorous to kick start gameweek 30 but it’s as big as they come for both teams. Hannover are rock bottom of the Bundesliga and can be relegated this weekend. Thomas Schaaf’s men have lost 13 of their last 16 matches and must win to ensure they can live to fight another day. They will host a Gladbach side that are still in the mix for the final Champions League spot. Usually, you wouldn’t give Hannover a chance, but only two teams have taken fewer points away from home than Gladbach in the Bundesliga this season (11), providing Hannover with some hope. It’s now or never for the home side, whereas Gladbach cannot afford to lose further ground on their rivals at the right end of the table.

Hoffenheim vs Hertha Berlin - Saturday, 14:30 KO

The wheels have started to come off Hertha Berlin’s campaign. They followed up their heavy 5-0 defeat to Gladbach with a surprise 2-2 draw against basement club Hannover and now they have to beat another relegation threatened side to ensure they remain above the chasing pack in pursuit for the final Champions League spot. This isn’t a foregone conclusion, however. Hoffenheim were second from bottom at the start of March, but only Dortmund (14) have won more points than them since then (13) to leave them three points above the bottom three. Added to that fact that only three teams have taken fewer points on the road in 2016 than Hertha (4), Hoffenheim’s good moment could continue.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Eintracht Frankfurt – Saturday, 14:30 KO

Leverkusen start the weekend only one point behind third placed Hertha Berlin and they will be tasked with overcoming relegation threatened Frankfurt on Saturday. With the Bundesliga’s fourth highest goalscorer in their ranks (Javier Hernandez – 16 goals), Roger Schmidt’s side will be confident of victory here. Only Hannover (4) have taken fewer points in 2016 than Frankfurt (10), who are three points adrift of safety and with just one win from their last 11 to their name.

Augsburg vs VfB Stuttgart – Saturday, 14:30 KO

Augsburg are another side fighting for their lives at the bottom of the Bundesliga. They start as occupants of the final safe spot and hold a two-point advantage over Werder Bremen, who they beat last weekend. A win here and a positive result for Hoffenheim would relegate Hannover. Only Darmstadt (1) have won fewer matches at home than Augsburg in the Bundesliga this season and Stuttgart aren’t out of the woods just yet either.

Bayern Munich vs Schalke – Saturday 17:30, KO

Pep Guardiola’s side can take a step closer to securing their fourth consecutive Bundesliga title when they host Schalke at the Allianz Arena on Saturday. Bayern hold a seven-point advantage over Dortmund and they can extend that gap to 10 before Thomas Tuchel’s side face Hamburg on Sunday. No team has conceded fewer goals at home in Europe’s top five leagues than Bayern this season (6).