The Bundesliga Relegation Race Update: Where Does Each Team Stand?

*Due to the fact that they probably only need one more win (or even one/two draws) to stay up, both VfL Wolfsburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach have not been included in this article.

Union Berlin - 29 Points / 14th place

Borussia Mönchengladbach (a)

VfL Bochum (h)

1. FC Köln (a)

Freiburg (h)

Difficulty rating: 2.5/10

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The outlook:

In their current position, Union Berlin will most likely only need one more win and a draw from the final four to confirm safety. Helping this situation, they have fairly comfortable fixtures in the next two weeks against Borussia Mönchengladbach and VfL Bochum which should be two wins for "die Eisernen".

In the weeks after, they have a relatively comfortable game against 17th place Köln which should provide all three points and a final day tie against Freiburg (by which point they should already be safe).

Mainz 05 - 27 Points / 15th place

Remaining fixtures:

1. FC Köln (h)

Heidenheim (a)

Borussia Dortmund (h)

VfL Wolfsburg (a)

Difficulty rating: 4.5/10
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The outlook:

Mainz are one of the most in-form teams in the bottom half following a stretch of two four-goal victories in the past month. Adding to these fortunes, Mainz play in two winnable games against Köln and Heidenheim in the next two weeks.

The game against 1. FC Köln is a must-win, and losing this may be fatal for Bo Henriksen's Mainz. Against Heidenheim, a draw could be enough. Finally, against Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg only three points overall may be likely and this will be on the final day against VfL Wolfsburg.

VfL Bochum - 27 Points / 16th place

Remaining fixtures:

TSG Hoffenheim (h)

Union Berlin (a)

Bayer Leverkusen (h)

Werder Bremen (a)

Difficulty rating: 6.5/10

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The outlook:

VfL Bochum have been put in a massive spot of bother after seeming relatively comfortable and cruising across the season after the historic 3-2 Bayern Munich victory.

However, the loss away to Köln in the last few minutes has jeopardised their season and puts them now as favourites to finish 16th. The fixture against Hoffenheim to start off with will prove tough and they'll probably lose it with the side from Sinsheim still gunning for seventh place.

The last three fixtures are a pair of mixed bag tie between Union Berlin (winnable, but tough) and Werder Bremen on the last day. Apart from these two, the second-last game against Bayer Leverkusen will no doubt be one that they will lose.

Rounding this off, VfL Bochum look to have an incredibly difficult final set of games and will be fortunate to win more than one of these.

1. FC Köln - 22 Points / 17th place

Remaining fixtures:

Mainz (a)

Freiburg (h)

Union Berlin (h)

Heidenheim (a)‍

Difficulty rating: 4/10

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The outlook:

A lot of media outlets reported that last weekend's match between Darmstadt and Köln was a crucial six-pointer. 

Although this is very much true, that match did not confirm relegation for the Billy Goats just yet. The match against Mainz on the weekend will, however, almost confirms relegation for Timo Schultz's side.

A win, in contrast, will catapult the side from Müngersdorf straight back into the running for survival as they'd move only two points off the other carnival side. The last three fixtures all serve their own special difficulties, however they are all winnable in their own way.

Should Köln beat Mainz, they can perhaps be confident of two wins in the last three against Union Berlin and one of Heidenheim/Freiburg. However, the columnist believes that they will not beat Mainz so all of this will be highly unlikely.

SV Darmstadt 98 - 17 Points / 18th place

Remaining fixtures:

Heidenheim (h)

VfL Wolfsburg (a)

TSG Hoffenheim (h)

Borussia Dortmund (a)

Difficulty rating: 6/10

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The outlook:

Darmstadt are pretty much all but relegated, even with last weekend's victory against 1. FC Köln. They sit five points behind the carnival club and are ten off both Mainz and Bochum in 15th and 16th respectively.

Compounding these struggles, Torsten Lieberknecht's side have a tough round of fixtures to finish the season on. Games against Heidenheim and Wolfsburg to start will be extremely difficult as both sides will want to finally confirm safety (they need one win to do this).

The following matches against Hoffenheim and Dortmund will no doubt end in losses as both teams are looking to confirm their respective Bundesliga positions in the race for Europe.

Overall, it is not the fixtures that Darmstadt will want with the position they are in. But, seeing as they are pretty much already down in the 2. Bundesliga they might play with a "no care attitude" that helps them get some wins to finish the season.

*UPDATE - Darmstadt are relegated as of matchday 31