Dortmund face Hoffenheim in crucial CL entry showdown

BAYERN MUNICH may have clinched a fifth straight title, but there is still plenty to play for in the Bundesliga, with key duels for direct Champions League entry, European berths and in the fight against relegation set for the weekend.

Third-placed Hoffenheim visit No. 4 Borussia Dortmund, who are one point behind, with tomorrow’s winner poised to get into the Champions League group stage while the loser faces a playoff tie.

The third-last round kicksoff today with Werder Bremen aiming to hold on to sixth and a Europa League spot at Cologne, who are just three points behind.

And the weekend closes Sunday with another duel of European hopefuls when Freiburg host Schalke.

Also on Sunday, SV Hamburg, in the relegation playoff spot, host Mainz, while another match in the lowlands tomorrow sees second- last Ingolstadt host Bayer Leverkusen.

Bayern, meanwhile, host Darmstadt after wrapping up the latest title a week ago in Wolfsburg, and victory tomorrow would send Darmstadt, who have won the last three games to delay the drop, back into the second tier.

RB Leipzig who face a tricky visit to Hertha Berlin who in fifth need full points in their Europa League bid.

Hoffenheim and Dortmund have secured the other two Champions League berths but it remains open who gets direct entry.

The battle for two or three Europa League berths, depending on the outcome of the Cup final between Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt.

The remaining weekend games are between strugglers and European hopfefuls: Moenchengladbach vs Augsburg and Frankfurt vs Wolfsburg.– dpa