The final day of the Allianz Frauen-Bundesliga promises to be special. The top three teams are separated by just two points heading into matchday 22. Table toppers and Cup winners VfL Wolfsburg have 54 points; FC Bayern are hot on their heels with 53 points and Champions League finalists 1. FFC Frankfurt go into their final match with 52 points. Wolfsburg travel to FFC on the final day whereas Bayern host SGS Essen, who are currently fifth in the table.
Wolfsburg have one hand on the title
Wolfsburg are the only side who control their own destiny. If they beat Frankfurt, they will lift the trophy for the third time in a row. A draw could also be enough for Ralf Kellermann’s side, provided Bayern don’t be Essen. A win for the hosts would rule the Wolves out of the running for the title and could see them miss out on Champions League qualification.
Their head coach is aiming to make things as easy as possible though: “We want to win the league, so we’ll be doing all we can to win in Frankfurt.”
His side go into the game full of confidence, having won the DFB Cup last week. “It helps that we can control our fate. We’ve got ourselves into this position despite struggling with injuries and having three competitions to play in,” added Kellermann. He went on to say that “it helps that we’ve got a lot of big game experience and won some crucial games in recent years.”
Wolfsburg, who won the side’s previous meeting this season 2-0, will be without Vanessa Bernauer and Lena Goeßling for the game but Verena Faißt could return.
Frankfurt in excellent form
1. FFC Frankfurt need to beat Wolfsburg in order to stand a chance of winning the league for the eighth time. They go into the game full of confidence, having won their last nine Bundesliga games. A tenth victory on the bounce would see them overtake the Wolves and consequently qualify for next year’s Champions League.
"VfL Wolfsburg have won six competitions since 2013, including successive Champions Leagues. They’re the team to beat,” explained Frankfurt head coach Colin Bell. “We know how strong they are, how much strength in depth they have and that they will be full of confidence. It certainly won’t be easy but it will be a good test of our character. First and foremost, we want to qualify for next year’s Champions League, so we’ll be giving it 100%.”
Fixture full of history
The fixture between the sides last year also played a key part in establishing the destination of the Allianz Frauen-Bundesliga title. An 89th minute goal from the Wolves’ Alexandra Popp sealed a 2-1 victory and the title. Without the goal, Ralf Kellermann’s side would not have been champions.
Frankfurt have another big game on their hands this week. Four days after the game against Wolfsburg, they face Paris St. Germain in the final of the Champions League. The game will take place in Berlin’s Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark on Thursday evening (18:00 CEST).
Bayern München have to win
FC Bayern München, who are currently second in the table, need to beat SGS Essen to stand any chance of winning the German Championship for the second time in their history. Should the Bavarians achieve victory, they will then need to hope that Wolfsburg drop points in Frankfurt.
Victory for Bayern would guarantee them a spot in next year’s Champions League. A draw is not enough and could see them slip out of the top two if FFC manage to beat the Wolves.
Thomas Wörle will be without Katharina Baunach, Sarah Romert, Vanessa Bürki, Ricarda Walkling and Viktoria Schnaderbeck for the game. His team go into the game having won four games consecutively. They beat Herford 6-0 last time out, a game in which Lena Lotzen scored her first goal after a long injury absence.
Essen are hoping to be the first side to beat Bayern this season, however, the omens aren’t good. SGS head coach Markus Högner has lost on 11 of the 21 occasions he been in the opposition dugout. The sides drew 0-0 earlier this campaign.
Sand and Duisburg hoping to survive
Herforder SV have already been relegated and one of SC Sand and MSV Duisburg will join them in the second tier. Sand currently have 16 points; MSV are on 14 and lie in the drop zone and have a significantly weaker goal difference. Sand face Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Sunday whilst Duisburg face Herford.
Sand’s head coach Sven Kahlert, who was in charge of Duisburg last year, has a full squad at his disposal. “The feeling before the game is no different to any other Bundesliga clash,” he explained. “We know the situation. We have it in our own hands, which has to be a food thing. We won’t be playing for a draw We want to win in Leverkusen to confirm survival.” Leverkusen are one place ahead of Sand, but have four more points.
MSV have to beat Herforder SV to be in with a shot of staying in the top flight. They won the first meeting 2-1 thanks to a late goal.
"Relegation would be disappointing,” explained Virginia "Gini" Kirchberger. "We’ve developed as a side and now have a good team, coach and support staff. Retaining our top flight status would be great, even though we know we’re going to need a bit of help from elsewhere.”
Final game in charge for Dietmar Sehrig
SC Freiburg play TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Sunday in what will be Dietmar Sehrig’s last game in charge. He will then become vice president and sporting director at his former club, FFV Heidenheim.
SCF will be looking to avoid a fifth defeat in a row. “We missed out on our chance to finish sixth thanks to the 3-2 defeat against Leverkusen but we’ll be doing all we can to ensure that we end the campaign in seventh,” explained Sehrig.
Turbine Potsdam are already guaranteed to finish fourth, ahead of the game against FF USV Jena. They lost the DFB Cup final 3-1 to Wolfsburg last week and are aiming to end the year on a positive note. Midfielder Jennifer Zietz wants to “send the fans home happy ahead of the summer break.” Jena are without a win in six and lost the first meeting of the sides 3-2.
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The final day of the Allianz Frauen-Bundesliga promises to be special. The top three teams are separated by just two points heading into matchday 22. Table toppers and Cup winners VfL Wolfsburg have 54 points; FC Bayern are hot on their heels with 53 points and Champions League finalists 1. FFC Frankfurt go into their final match with 52 points. Wolfsburg travel to FFC on the final day whereas Bayern host SGS Essen, who are currently fifth in the table.
Wolfsburg have one hand on the title
Wolfsburg are the only side who control their own destiny. If they beat Frankfurt, they will lift the trophy for the third time in a row. A draw could also be enough for Ralf Kellermann’s side, provided Bayern don’t be Essen. A win for the hosts would rule the Wolves out of the running for the title and could see them miss out on Champions League qualification.
Their head coach is aiming to make things as easy as possible though: “We want to win the league, so we’ll be doing all we can to win in Frankfurt.”
His side go into the game full of confidence, having won the DFB Cup last week. “It helps that we can control our fate. We’ve got ourselves into this position despite struggling with injuries and having three competitions to play in,” added Kellermann. He went on to say that “it helps that we’ve got a lot of big game experience and won some crucial games in recent years.”
Wolfsburg, who won the side’s previous meeting this season 2-0, will be without Vanessa Bernauer and Lena Goeßling for the game but Verena Faißt could return.
Frankfurt in excellent form
1. FFC Frankfurt need to beat Wolfsburg in order to stand a chance of winning the league for the eighth time. They go into the game full of confidence, having won their last nine Bundesliga games. A tenth victory on the bounce would see them overtake the Wolves and consequently qualify for next year’s Champions League.
"VfL Wolfsburg have won six competitions since 2013, including successive Champions Leagues. They’re the team to beat,” explained Frankfurt head coach Colin Bell. “We know how strong they are, how much strength in depth they have and that they will be full of confidence. It certainly won’t be easy but it will be a good test of our character. First and foremost, we want to qualify for next year’s Champions League, so we’ll be giving it 100%.”
Fixture full of history
The fixture between the sides last year also played a key part in establishing the destination of the Allianz Frauen-Bundesliga title. An 89th minute goal from the Wolves’ Alexandra Popp sealed a 2-1 victory and the title. Without the goal, Ralf Kellermann’s side would not have been champions.
Frankfurt have another big game on their hands this week. Four days after the game against Wolfsburg, they face Paris St. Germain in the final of the Champions League. The game will take place in Berlin’s Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark on Thursday evening (18:00 CEST).
Bayern München have to win
FC Bayern München, who are currently second in the table, need to beat SGS Essen to stand any chance of winning the German Championship for the second time in their history. Should the Bavarians achieve victory, they will then need to hope that Wolfsburg drop points in Frankfurt.
Victory for Bayern would guarantee them a spot in next year’s Champions League. A draw is not enough and could see them slip out of the top two if FFC manage to beat the Wolves.
Thomas Wörle will be without Katharina Baunach, Sarah Romert, Vanessa Bürki, Ricarda Walkling and Viktoria Schnaderbeck for the game. His team go into the game having won four games consecutively. They beat Herford 6-0 last time out, a game in which Lena Lotzen scored her first goal after a long injury absence.
Essen are hoping to be the first side to beat Bayern this season, however, the omens aren’t good. SGS head coach Markus Högner has lost on 11 of the 21 occasions he been in the opposition dugout. The sides drew 0-0 earlier this campaign.
Sand and Duisburg hoping to survive
Herforder SV have already been relegated and one of SC Sand and MSV Duisburg will join them in the second tier. Sand currently have 16 points; MSV are on 14 and lie in the drop zone and have a significantly weaker goal difference. Sand face Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Sunday whilst Duisburg face Herford.
Sand’s head coach Sven Kahlert, who was in charge of Duisburg last year, has a full squad at his disposal. “The feeling before the game is no different to any other Bundesliga clash,” he explained. “We know the situation. We have it in our own hands, which has to be a food thing. We won’t be playing for a draw We want to win in Leverkusen to confirm survival.” Leverkusen are one place ahead of Sand, but have four more points.
MSV have to beat Herforder SV to be in with a shot of staying in the top flight. They won the first meeting 2-1 thanks to a late goal.
"Relegation would be disappointing,” explained Virginia "Gini" Kirchberger. "We’ve developed as a side and now have a good team, coach and support staff. Retaining our top flight status would be great, even though we know we’re going to need a bit of help from elsewhere.”
Final game in charge for Dietmar Sehrig
SC Freiburg play TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Sunday in what will be Dietmar Sehrig’s last game in charge. He will then become vice president and sporting director at his former club, FFV Heidenheim.
SCF will be looking to avoid a fifth defeat in a row. “We missed out on our chance to finish sixth thanks to the 3-2 defeat against Leverkusen but we’ll be doing all we can to ensure that we end the campaign in seventh,” explained Sehrig.
Turbine Potsdam are already guaranteed to finish fourth, ahead of the game against FF USV Jena. They lost the DFB Cup final 3-1 to Wolfsburg last week and are aiming to end the year on a positive note. Midfielder Jennifer Zietz wants to “send the fans home happy ahead of the summer break.” Jena are without a win in six and lost the first meeting of the sides 3-2.
