- © © DFL DEUTSCHE FUSSBALL LIGA
- © © DFL DEUTSCHE FUSSBALL LIGA

Third meets fourth in Champions League scramble

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Matchday 26 in the Bundesliga gets underway with a bang on Friday night when third-placed Hertha Berlin play host to pursuants in fourth FC Schalke 04 (kick-off 20:30CET/19:30GMT).

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Hertha may have come unstuck in Hamburg on Matchday 25, but they continue to lead the pursuit in the quest for the Bundesliga's third automatic group stage berth in next season's UEFA Champions League.

Watch: Hamburg 2-0 Hertha – match highlights

Their nearest challengers are now Schalke, who are just one point adrift thanks to a 3-1 win in Cologne which has put Andre Breitenreiter's men right where they want to be: challenging for third. With little separating them from 1. FSV Mainz 05 and Borussia Mönchengladbach, the Royal Blues know they will have to be at their best to snatch third from a very tenacious Old Lady.

Watch: Köln 1-3 Schalke – match highlights

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