Augsburg, Mainz and Hamburg will all be hoping they can celebrate Bundesliga safety come the end of the season. - © © gettyimages
Augsburg, Mainz and Hamburg will all be hoping they can celebrate Bundesliga safety come the end of the season. - © © gettyimages

The Bundesliga relegation battle: Almost no one is safe yet

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The battle to avoid the drop this Bundesliga campaign is tighter than ever before! All teams in the bottom half of the table are currently looking over their shoulders with just six points between Eintracht Frankfurt in tenth and Augsburg in 16th, and currently only the top four are mathematically safe from the drop.

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Ingolstadt and Darmstadt looked like goners weeks ago, but Die Schanzer are now only four points from safety and the Lilies have not given up the fight just yet. bundesliga.com takes a look at the remaining fixtures of those fighting for survival.

Eintracht Frankfurt: 10th, Pts 38

Currently sitting tenth, Niko Kovac’s side are seemingly the best-placed side to avoid the drop. Just two short of the magic 40-point mark, the Eagles also face three teams below them in the table, including two at home. However, Frankfurt are currently on a ten-game winless run that has seen them slip from third at Christmas to their current position.

Remaining games:

Augsburg (H), Hoffenheim (A), Wolfsburg (H), Mainz (A), Leipzig (H)

Watch: Marco Fabian's screamer against Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 29

Schalke: 11th, Pts 37

The Royal Blues’ saving grace this season has been their defence. They are the only team in the bottom half of the table with a positive goal difference. They have also not been shy in front of goal, only being held seven times in their 29 Bundesliga matches this season. However, Die Knappen have three away games to come in their five remaining fixtures, including against two relegation rivals. Markus Weinzierl’s side have won just once on the road this campaign, but are just one victory away from avoiding automatic relegation.

Remaining games:

Leipzig (H), Leverkusen (A), Freiburg (A), Hamburg (H), Ingolstadt (A)

Watch: Highlights of Schalke's 4-1 victory over Wolfsburg on Matchday 28

Bayer Leverkusen: 12th, Pts 36

It’s seemingly been one step forward and two steps back for Die Werkself this season under Roger Schmidt and Tayfun Korkut. Their longest unbeaten run this campaign came between Matchdays 4 and 6, with inconsistency since then. Ingolstadt are the only team Leverkusen are yet to face below them in the table. That game is also away from home, but Bayer are one of the better teams on the road this season – which is good, because they have three away games left this term.

Remaining games:

Freiburg (A), Schalke (H), Ingolstadt (A), Cologne, (H), Hertha (A)

Watch: Highlights of Leverkusen's 2-0 win at relegation rivals Darmstadt

Wolfsburg: 13th, Pts 33

Things seem to be finally working out for the Wolves under their third coach of the season. Since Andries Jonker took over, Wolfsburg have won 14 points from seven games and have seen the best of forward Mario Gomez. They have three tough games against teams in the top half of the table to come (Hertha, Bayern and Gladbach), as well as clashes against direct rivals Frankfurt and Hamburg still to come. That tie at Hamburg takes place on the final day of the season, and could be decisive for both teams and in the relegation battle as a whole.

Remaining games:

Hertha (A), Bayern (H), Frankfurt (A), Gladbach (H), Hamburg (A)

Hamburg: 14th, Pts 33

The Bundesliga’s only ever-present club have their fate in their own hands in their run-in. Markus Gisdol’s side are just one point above the relegation play-off, but can make haste in their charge up the table with all five games against fellow relegation strugglers. Three of their final games are at home, where they are unbeaten in nine and have won their last four, against Darmstadt, Mainz and Wolfsburg.

Remaining games:

Darmstadt (H), Augsburg (A), Mainz (H), Schalke (A), Wolfsburg (H)

Watch: Highlights of Hamburg's 2-1 win over Hoffenheim on Matchday 28

Mainz: 15th, Pts 32

The 05ers picked up a vital, confidence-boosting 1-0 win against Hertha on Matchday 29 after a run of five consecutive defeats. Mainz have three games remaining against teams in the top half of the tale, including leaders Bayern. However, Martin Schmidt’s side did win 2-1 in Munich last season. Needless to say, they will be primarily looking at the games against fellow strugglers Hamburg and Frankfurt for big points in their push to survive the drop.

Remaining games:

Bayern (A), Gladbach (H), Hamburg (A), Frankfurt (H), Cologne (A)

Watch: Highlights of Mainz's 1-0 win over Hertha on Matchday 29

Augsburg: 16th, Pts 32

Die Fuggerstädter have a bit of everything in their remaining fixtures. The next two games against Frankfurt and Hamburg could be crucial as they look to make up ground on their rivals and move out of the relegation play-off place for the first time since Matchday 25. Augsburg will also see hope from their game against Eintracht, who they have not lost to for eight games. There are three games on the road left for Manuel Baum’s side, who may not mind that considering their superior away record this season.

Remaining games:

Frankfurt (A), Hamburg (H), Gladbach (A), Dortmund (H), Hoffenheim (A)

Watch: Highlights of Augsburg's 2-1 win over Cologne on Matchday 29

Ingolstadt: 17th, Pts 28

Die Schanzer have been the surprise team of recent weeks. Their 3-0 defeat to Wolfsburg was more of a blip than expected result following their run of three consecutive wins during the Englische Woche. Ingolstadt have been 17th for 20 of the 29 Matchdays this season, but their recent run has brought them back into the reckoning as they now sit just four points behind the relegation play-off place. The remaining fixtures are not easy for Maik Walpurgis’ side as they meet five clubs all pushing for a place in Europe, and therefore also have everything left to play for.

Remaining games:

Bremen (H), Leipzig (A), Leverkusen (H), Freiburg (A), Schalke (H)

Watch: Highlights of Ingolstadt's entertaining 3-2 win over relegation rivals Darmstadt on Matchday 28

Darmstadt: 18th, Pts 18

The Lilies’ were seemingly given a stay of execution with their dramatic late 2-1 win over Schalke. Torsten Frings’ side are still 14 points adrift of the relative safety of the play-off place, and will be relegated should they drop any points in their remaining games. Darmstadt still have to face fellow strugglers Hamburg on Matchday 30, which could throw them yet another lifeline with a win. However, things don’t get easier for the bottom side should they still have their heads above water with four games against teams in the top half of the table, including a visit to champions in waiting Bayern.

Remaining games:

Hamburg (A), Freiburg (H), Bayern (A), Hertha (H), Gladbach (A)

Watch: Highlights of Darmstadt's dramatic last-minute win against Schalke on Matchday 29

Click here for five end of season predictions ahead of Matchday 30

Click here to find out more about the race for Europe in the Bundesliga