Credit to Awer scott21 from the god make it end thread

http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/wolfsburg-hit-form-but-still-looking-over-their-shoulder-in-relegation-dogfight-396584

Just because Darmstadt and Ingolstadt look destined to occupy the two direct relegation spots does not mean that everyone else in the lower reaches of the Bundesliga can now breathe easily.

Thanks to the German system of end-of-season relegation/promotion play-offs – pitting the 16th club in the top-flight against the team finishing third in the second tier – elite high anxiety is guaranteed right until the bitter end and this term it’s a particularly widespread phenomenon, with half the league in a cold sweat.

As of this weekend, the 25th of 34 Bundesliga rounds, only five points separate Hamburg in 16th from tenth-placed Borussia Mönchengladbach and even Schalke in ninth, are twitching nervously, well aware they could be sucked in if they do not find a cure for their chronic inconsistency.There certainly is no shortage of big clubs cowering under this Sword of Damocles. Former Deutschland title-winners such as Hamburg, Gladbach, Bremen and Wolfsburg. Or multiple Champions League participants, Leverkusen whose fall from grace in 2016-17 has taken everyone by surprise.

Some are dealing with the pressure better than others. Although hammered 8-0 at Bayern last month, Hamburg have only lost one of their last seven fixtures, a sequence including victories over high-flying RB Leipzig and Hertha Berlin, while Bremen – who upset Leipzig 3-0 at the weekend – have won three of their last four.Under new coach, Andries Jonker, Wolfsburg finally are showing signs of resistance too. In his three games in charge, Jonker has yet to taste defeat (winning two and drawing the other) and clearly made the correct diagnosis when insisting they play with greater aggression and directness.The Wolves, however, will have to keep up the good work. For all their improved results of late, they remain bogged down in the standings, a source of much frustration for rejuvenated striker, Mario Gomez.“We’ve picked up seven points from our last three games and we’re still only 15th,” declared Gomez after heading in the only goal of the game against Darmstadt on Saturday, his third consecutive match on the score-sheet. “It’s comical.”
So who will be the odd one out in 16th ?
History points to Hamburg, who twice in the past three years have somehow managed to maintain their balance on the play-off high-wire. Spring Championship form says Mainz or Leverkusen, both of whom have acquired a losing habit in 2017.And their defensive shortcomings could spell disaster for FC Augsburg. Since coach Dirk Schuster was sacked in December and replaced by Manuel Baum, the FCA rearguard has been an essentially part-time operation, sloppy, uncoordinated and remarkably vulnerable to a well-worked set-piece.Twenty-seven points left to play for.

One of eight or nine for the repechage.

Only those with strong nerves need apply.

All the main contenders playing away from home, and simultaneous kick-offs to add to the fun.

#bundeswatch

With the Bundesliga on hold for international weekend, I decided to take the time to look thru which players for each of our represented clubs represented at the international stage. If any of it is wrong, it's either an oversight on my part and/or transfermarkt.com let me down:

Werder Bremen (pv4):
- Thomas Delaney, 90mins for Denmark vs Romania 0-0.
- Jaroslav Drobny, on the bench for Czech Republic v San Marino, 6-0 win.
- Theodor Gebre Selassie, 90mins for Czech Repulic v San Marino, 6-0 win, 1 goal and 1 assist.
- Niklas Moisander, 90mins for Finland vs Turkey, 2-0 loss.
- Zlatko Junuzovic, 90mins for Austria v Moldova, 2-0 win, 1 assist.

Wolfsburg (bigpoppa):
- Mario Gomez, 61mins for Germany v Azerbaijan, 4-1 win, 1 goal.
- Jakub Blaszczykowski, 90mins for Poland v Montenegro, 2-1 win.
- Yunus Malli, 7mins for Turkey v Moldova, 3-1 win.

Hamburger SV (TYST/milan):
- Johan Djourou, 90mins for Switzerland v Latvia, 1-0 win.
- Gotoku Sakai, on the bench for Japan v UAE, 2-0 win.
- Albin Ekdal, 69mins for Sweden v Belarus, 4-0 win.
- Filip Kostic, 81 mins for Serbia v Georgia, 3-1 win, 1 assist.
- Michael Gergoritsch, on the bench for Austria v Moldova, 2-0 win.

Ingolstadt (sokorny):
- Orjan Nyland, on the bench for Norway v Northern Ireland, 2-0 loss.
- Marcel Tisserand, 90mins for DR Congo v Kenya, 2-1 loss.
- Markus Suttner, 1 minute for Austria v Moldova, 2-0 win.
- Almog Cohen, 90mins for Israel v Spain, 4-1 loss.
- Mathew Leckie, 90mins for Australia v Iraq, 1-1 draw, 1 goal.
- Dario Lezcano, 64 mins for Paraguay v Ecuador, 2-1 win.

It's time to 'Back the Brewers' once more as Burton Albion battle to stay in the Championship

The Burton Mail is calling on Burton Albion fans and the town to once again 'Back The Brewers' in their quest to stay in the Championship.
The Brewers need the town to be their 12^th man for a tough run-in that includes home games against the likes of Aston Villa and Leeds United.

The effect of Championship football is clear to see, with a record attendance set in August against Derby, despite the game being broadcast live on national television.
A bumper 6,746 people crammed into the Pirelli to roar on Burton to what was a crucial three points.
This is the level of support required to ensure Burton stay in the Championship.The next eight games are crucial to the Brewer's hopes of surviving their Championship debut.

 A non-league club only as recently as 2009, the club has grown remarkably through back-to-back promotions and is now a staple of the town.
Perched on the edge of the relegation zone, the Brewers sit one point above 22^nd-place Blackburn Rovers and level on 41 points with both Nottingham Forest and Bristol City.

Read more at http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/it-s-time-to-back-the-brewers-once-more-as-burton-albion-battle-to-stay-in-the-championship/story-30226600-detail/story.html#sUHLDeLWwrPYq76C.99

So Burtons Win the only one at the bottom end

looking tough for Wigan now, but still tight as a ducks-arse for the 3rd dropper

Wolves also won ... to make it 4 wins in a row!!

#bundeswatch

Wow, just wow. What a form rise for pretty much each represented team! 

A huge 7 goal thriller victory for pv4's Werder Bremen against a top 8 SC Freiburg!

TYST/milan's Hamburglar's produced the goods to edge FC Kolon Hunters by a goal!

Sokorny's/Leckie's Ingolstadt decide that they'll give the run home a crack and edge fellow relegation battlers Mainz 05!

And bigpoppa's Wolfsburg were held to a draw in a 6 goal away game which saw them rise two spots on the table!

And Safe-Zoners Bayern Munich were able to absolutely decimate FC Augsburg and put a ding in their GD for us all!

Scenes, scenes everywhere! 

Results:



Ladder:

No time to draw breath,  Next round on again tonight

Blackburn playing away yet again, that's 4 of the last 5 games !!

Rotherham officially relegated then??

My Villa could still return to the EPL next season (just need to make the playoffs ... but need a lot to go their way). Maybe another season of rebuilding in the Championship would do them some good.

Yep, Rotherham can't do it, even with all 10-0 wins

even Birmingham could make the playoffs and get promoted. 

The % chance would be miniscule, just showing what's possible under a specific set of results for everyone

Simultaneous losses by everyone except Wolves (who must be safe now)

Burton away to Newcastle tonight.  

Must be the clubs biggest game ever, and a shock result will separate the pack

how about this for a Long Bow



Late '70s IIRC :)

Probably could of simply said "long time EPL side Aston Villa" (was Villa's first time going down since the commencement of the EPL).

Poor old Bailey Wright's team got pumped by his former team ... 5-0!!

What division are the Bristol Rovers in nowadays??? Could a Bristol derby be on the cards next year (given City's precarious position)??

Fifa? :)

Yes, Gasheads are League 1

Hopefully the Shitheads get relegated (sorry Volrath) but it's looking increasingly unlikely that Rovers will manage 3 promotions on the trot to swap-over

how's Palermo going ?

Burton lost 1-0 so no change at the bottom

6 games to go.....................

Aha luckily I don't really care. Soft spot as some family are from Sicily.
My family's real team is Lazio. Yay for fascism and all that. Cup final coming up.
I laugh from my ivory tower.

Forza Roma. Lazio merda. :laugh:

#bundeswatch

There was a midweek round of games and I didn't even realise! Sack me ffs.

pv4's Werder Bremen beat Schalke 04 3-0 at home, which pushes Schalke under Werder in the Relegation race! What a massive turn of form since this Relegation Race began for Werder! Cmon boiz!!

TYST/milan's Hamburglar's lost 3-0 away to Dortmund.

bigpoppa's Wolfsburg were beaten at home 1-0 by SC Freiburg.

sokorny's Ingolstadt won 3-2 away against FC Augsburg. Ingolstadt are REALLY pulling things together in the last couple of weeks!

RB Leipzig with a huge 3-2 away win against Mainz 05 which confirms RB's stay in the Bundesliga next season. Check the hospital records 9 months from now, because the women of Leipzig will be popping out newborns at record rates!

Results:



Ladder:

#bundeswatch

Fixtures for this weekend:

pv4's Werder Bremen are away to 8th place Eintracht.

bigpoppa's Wolfsburg are away to Schalke 04 which if Schalke win could create somewhat of a gap between the relegation racers and the mid table pack. Note that Schalke are coming off a 3-0 spanking from pv4's Werder.

TYST/milan's Hamburglars are at home to 4th place Hoffenheim. A victory for Hoffenheim would almost definitely confirm their stay in the Bundesliga for another season by pushing them to the confirmed Safe Zone, so this is arguably Hoffenheim's biggest game in their history ever.

And sokorny's Ingolstadt are hosting cellar dwellers Darmstadt. If Ingolstadt win and my memory serves correctly, that will be 3 wins on the go and will be a huge result in their late race for survival.

Other Relegation Racers Fixtures include FC Augsburg away to Hertha BSC & Mainz 05 away to SC Feriburg,

All the battlers at home this weekend

bigpoppa's Wigan won't getter a better chance to pick up 3 points
I'd say it's their last chance, as they have 3 of the top 5 in their last 4 games

Hopefully Wolves carry on their great form and Mooy bangs in a couple for Huddersfiled

#bundeswatch

Here is the form since this Relegation Race begun (every team had played 24 games and have now played 27 games):

pv4's Werder - Initial Postition 15th, Initial Points 26, Form WWW, Current Position 11th
TYST/milan's Hamburglars - Initial Position 16th, Initial Points 26, Form DWL, Current Position 14th
bigpoppa's Wolfsburg - Initial Position 14th, Initial Points 26, Form WDL, Current Position 13th
sokorny's Ingolstadt - Initial Position 17th, Initial Points 19, Form LWW, Current Position 17th

Particularly taking into account Ingolstadt's recent form, I'm going to say that we have single-handedly motivated all of our teams to improve to avoid the drop!

Let them know, maybe they'll send us some goodies