The race for Europe | OneFootball

The Bundesliga's race to play European football in 2025/26

With the 2024/25 season on the home straight, those hoping to grab a European spot are jostling for position behind the division leaders. bundesliga.com assesses the chances of all concerned, as the likes of Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt plot a course for the continent next season...

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Bayern Munich guaranteed themselves a top-four finish and therefore UEFA Champions League qualification on Matchday 27. Bayer Leverkusen followed suit two rounds later. It means there are still two spots up for grabs in the Champions League.

As it stands, fifth place will go into the UEFA Europa League and sixth into the UEFA Conference League play-offs. Any extra qualifier berth will depend on the outcome of the DFB Cup final between VfB Stuttgart and Arminia Bielefeld, and the former's finish position in the Bundesliga if they lift the cup.

>>> How does European qualification work?

Eintracht Frankfurt Position: 3rdPoints: 55 (31 games)Goals: 62-42 (+20)

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Remaining 3 matches:

Despite their form dipping up and down, it is still set to be a fine season for Dino Töppmöller's men. The Eagles have shown they have the strength as a unit to compensate for the loss of top scorer Omar Marmoush in the January transfer window and mount a serious bid for the top four, starting the new year with six matches unbeaten. Hugo Ekitiké has been a dazzling forward presence, with 15 goals for the campaign. A commanding win over fellow top-four hopefuls Leipzig on Matchday 31 puts Frankfurt well on course for UEFA Champions League football next season.

FreiburgPosition: 4thPoints: 51 (31 games)Goals: 44-47 (-3)

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Remaining 3 matches:

Uncertainty was the overwhelming feeling in the Black Forest before the start of the season as Julian Schuster stepped into the sizeable coaching boots left by Christian Streich and his record-breaking time in charge. Freiburg have looked every bit the same quietly effective outfit under the new boss, however. Results have been up and down all season, but a seven-match unbeaten run since the start of February lifted Freiburg up the standings. With Vincenzo Grifo continuing to be a dependable creative force in an experienced side, Freiburg moved into the top four with three matchdays of the season remaining.

RB LeipzigPosition: 5thPoints: 49 (31 games)Goals: 48-42 (+6)

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A mainstay of the UEFA Champions League places since the 2017/18 season, Leipzig certainly lived up to their high standards at the start of the season. However, an extensive injury list that included a long-term layoff for star playmaker Xavi sent them on a bit of a downward spiral. Die Roten Bullen do now have Xavi back from injury and, with new head coach Zsolt Lőw in charge until the end of the season after the dismissal of Marco Rose at the start of April, they had their sites again on the top four, but a big defeat in Frenkfurt ahead of a difficult run-in leaves those hopes on the edge.

Borussia DortmundPosition: 6th Points: 48 (31 games)Goals: 60-49 (+11)

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Remaining 3 matches:

Dortmund had looked largely untouchable at home under Nuri Şahin, but away struggles - with just one win in their first nine on the road - largely led to his departure in January. New boss Niko Kovač has been aiming to put things right so that last season's Champions League finalists can enter European competition in some shape or form next term. With Serhou Guirassy continually serving up goals, the Black & Yellows - who have claimed confidence-boosting results against Bayern and Barcelona of late - surged up the standings with a run of four wins out of five to leave them well positioned going into the final three matchdays.

MainzPosition: 7thPoints: 47 (31 games)Goals: 48-39 (+9)

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Mainz have upset the traditional domestic order to play in Europe before, doing so under the tutelage of Thomas Tuchel. Bo Henriksen is the latest man making waves in the Mainz hotseat - and what a season they are enjoying under the Dane. Wins against Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich formed part of a 10-match unbeaten home run that put Mainz firmly in contention for European qualification, although a winless spell in the spring tempered those hopes ahead of the final three matchdays.

Werder BremenPosition: 8thPoints: 45 (30 games)Goals: 48-54 (-6)

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Remaining 4 matches:

Ole Werner's side have struggled for consistency over the course of the 2024/25 campaign, but time and again, they have shown that they can compete with the very best on their day. A run of four consecutive league defeats between February and March left them plummeting down the league. However, a shock victory on Matchday 25 away at champions Leverkusen lifted Werder to taking five wins from their last six. With Marvin Ducksch leading the line in front of an exciting midfield and Oliver Burke currently on song, if Bremen can stay consistent in the closing weeks of the season, there's every reason to believe they could creep into the European places for the first time in 15 years.

Borussia MönchengladbachPosition: 9thPoints: 44 (31 games)Goals: 51-50 (+1)

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Remaining 3 matches:

The Foals came worryingly close to a relegation play-off at the end of 2023/24 but, thanks in large part to the arrival of super striker Tim Kleindienst, Gerardo Seoane's side look far better equipped for a European push this time around. They have nobody to fear when it comes to clocking enough points over the remainder of the campaign, including a trip to Munich, but inconsistency has held them back at times this season and leaves them with ground to make up.

Augsburg Position: 10th Points: 43 (31 games)Goals: 33-42 (-9)

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Augsburg were not everyone's tip for European qualification at the start of the season, having last finished a campaign in the top half back in 2014/15 (then finishing fifth and earning a Europa League place). Three defeats in their opening five matches did not augur too well, but Jess Thorup has steadied the ship admirably, going on an 11-game unbeaten run from the middle of January until defeat against Bayern on Matchday 28 brought the Fuggerstädter back down to earth. Finn Dahmen has particularly impressed, keeping nine clean sheets this season and keeping Augsburg in the European hunt.

>>> What does Stuttgart's DFB Cup final against Arminia Bielefeld mean for European qualification?

VfB StuttgartPosition: 11thPoints: 41 (31 games)Goals: 56-51 (+5)

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Stuttgart faced a challenging start to a campaign that kicked off without departed giants like Serhou Guirassy and Waldemar Anton. A run of six wins in eight games sent Sebastian Hoeneß's men surging up the standings and back into familiar territory, but last season's runners-up have now have just one win in their last eight games since victory in Dortmund. Key goal threat Deniz Undav has returned after injury issues but has struggled to fire. Nick Woltemade has impressed after emerging from the shadows, while fellow striker Ermedin Demirović, who plundered a hat-trick in the 4-0 Matchday 28 win over Bochum has helped shoulder the burden as the Swabians seek a return to Europe after this year's Champions League adventure, either via the league or by winning the DFB Cup.

WolfsburgPosition: 12thPoints: 39 (31 games)Goals: 53-48 (+5)

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After a few seasons of huffing and puffing, the Wolves are looking up rather than down as they aim for their first European qualification spot since 2020/21. Ralph Hasenhüttl has masterminded the revival this term, with loan signing Mohamed Amoura bringing attacking momentum. A seven-match winless run has left their hopes slender going into the final three matchdays, however.

>>> How is the battle to stay in the Bundesliga unfolding?

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