Prize in sight: Leverkusen host Hannover on Matchday 33 with Stefan Kießling looking for his 24th goal of the season, and a march on Dortmund's Robert Lewandowski in the race for top scorer

Fight to the finish guaranteed on 'Super Saturday'

09.05.2013

Munich - The suspense could hardly be higher as the Bundesliga gears up for its penultimate round of action, with all nine Matchday 33 fixtures kicking off simultaneously at 15:30 CET on Saturday.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen - Hannover 96

1899 Hoffenheim and Fortuna Düsseldorf are fighting for their lives at the foot of the table, while European qualification tops the agenda for SC Freiburg, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Hamburger SV. bundesliga.com previews the action...

Leverkusen have already achieved their main priority this season by qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. “Securing third place was a great achievement for us, and one that I’m very proud of,” said head coach Sami Hyypiä in his pre-match press conference.

The players will want to give the home fans something to cheer about in their final game at the BayArena, but one player in particular will be looking for more than just an entertaining flurry. Striker is neck and neck with Borussia Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski on 23 goals for the season, and has two games left to edge ahead and take the coveted Torkanone.

Playing for pride

Hannover’s season, by contrast, has ended rather underwhelmingly. After being knocked out of the UEFA Europa League in February, the Reds have struggled with injuries to key players and, with a third successive finish in the European places proving a bridge too far, their focus has instead turned to finishing as high up the league ladder as possible.

“The game in Leverkusen will be a huge challenge for us,” believes head coach Mirko Slomka. “We’re still aiming to climb as high in the table as we can. I hope we can put in a really good performance, just as we did in the home game.”

1899 Hoffenheim - Hamburger SV

After keeping Hoffenheim’s survival hopes alive with two late goals in Bremen a week ago, Sven Schipplock could be in line for a first against Hamburger SV on Saturday. The 24-year-old has appeared 46 times in the Bundesliga, but still awaits a full 90-minute run-out. “He can run longer,” said his coach Markus Gisdol, who added it “is a serious consideration” to name him in his starting XI.

“Sven is in good form and of course you’ve got to think about it,” added Gisdol, who at the same time recognises Schipplock’s “qualities as a substitute.” He underlined those last weekend with two goals which, when all is said and done, could keep Hoffenheim in the top flight. Schipplock, incidentally, has scored five goals in 14 games this season.

"Everything's possible"

Hamburg coach Thorsten Fink does not have as many options, with Rene Adler, Michael Mancienne, Dennis Aogo and Tolgay Arslan all ruled out. Nevertheless, Fink firmly believes the door to European football is still wide open.

“Purely mathematically-speaking, everything’s possible,” he said. “And we want to maintain that and give everything right to the very end for a place in Europe. We don’t have any time to hang our heads, but must carry on working with full concentration on our next game.”

Fortuna Düsseldorf - 1. FC Nuremberg

This is a game in which one side needs the points a lot more than the other. After a fantastic first half to the season, the points have dried up for Fortuna in 2013. Their last win came against bottom club Greuther Fürth on Matchday 22 and they are just two points ahead of 17th-placed 1899 Hoffenheim, as well as being level on 30 points with FC Augsburg in the relegation play-off place.

“We would like to have been safe already, but that isn’t the case”, stated coach Norbert Meier. “We have two games left and we have to approach them with composure and enthusiasm.”

Wiesinger targets next season

Nuremberg’s target was also to stay in the Bundesliga, but that was secured weeks ago after a run of nine games unbeaten following the appointment of new boss Michael Wiesinger during the winter break.

Their last four games have all ended in defeat, but Wiesinger has already cast his eye towards the new campaign. “The most important thing is that we will compete in the Bundesliga next season.”

Greuther Fürth - SC Freiburg

In the 50-year history of the Bundesliga, no club has ever gone an entire season without recording a home win. Yet that could be the fate that befalls already doomed Fürth, whose home record this season reads played 16, drawn four and lost 12.

“None of us, not the players, coaches or fans, want to end the season without a win here,” says head coach Frank Kramer. “But it won’t be easy. Freiburg are having a superb season.”

Streich committed

It has indeed been a wonderful nine months for the Black Forest outfit. From beating the drop last season, Christian Streich’s team have set the league alight with their fearless approach to the game. Currently four points behind FC Schalke 04, they are also within touching distance of the last remaining Champions League place.

Christian Streich, however, is already looking forward to next season, having just agreed a new contract with the club. “Why would I want to want to leave Freiburg? There are lots of reasons to stay here,” said the 47-year-old.

1. FSV Mainz - Borussia Mönchengladbach

Both of these clubs were chasing a place in Europe a few weeks ago, but have since seen their bids somewhat derailed. Mainz have endured a difficult year, winning just two of 15 games, and their top-six hopes were effectively ended after a 2-2 draw at Hannover last weekend.

That disappointment behind him, head coach Thomas Tuchel is now hoping for one final flourish at the Coface Arena. “Our objective is clear: to turn our number of wins, draws and losses into a positive record, and we can only do that with two victories.”

"No alternative"

Gladbach suffered a costly defeat at home to Schalke last weekend, but all is not lost in their bid to reach the Europa League. They trail sixth position by four points with two games remaining, and simply have to win this weekend if they are to return to the competition next season.

“It will be extremely difficult to get something against a team with one of the best defences, but we have to win in Mainz. There is no alternative,” affirmed Foals coach Lucien Favre.