What to look out for when the Bundesliga returns

German football is back this weekend

The Bundesliga is finally back this weekend, with the toptwo leagues in Germany set to resume behind closed doors following a two-monthsuspension.

Fans have been eagerly anticipating what should be athrilling final nine games of the season. Near enough every team still has somethingto play for, with the title race, European spots and relegation scrap still yetto be decided.

Bayern Munich are currently four points clear at the top ofthe table and are on track for their eighth consecutive league title.

But the reigning champions have a tricky run-in and withplenty of teams on their tail, they can’t afford to slip up.

So with the league’s resumption just days away, we’ve crunchedthe numbers on how the next nine matches could shape the final standings.

The title race

Bayern have enjoyed another strong campaign and are leadingthe way with 55 points, largely down to the ever-prolific Robert Lewandowski,who tops the charts of golden boot hopefuls with 25 goals.

Hans-Dieter Flick was recently rewarded for his impressivestart as interim boss with a three-year deal and the German is targeting afirst league title in his maiden season. However, it won’t be plain sailing andthere are potentially four teams that could challenge Bayern.

Borussia Dortmund are sitting on 51 points, adding extraexcitement to their clash with Bayern on 26th May. Dortmund will need JadonSancho to be at his best and they could pick up crucial points as they take onPaderborn, Hertha Berlin, Mainz and Dusseldorf, four teams fighting to stay up.

RB Leipzig, armed with British pair Ethan Ampadu and AdemolaLookman, host Dortmund on the penultimate day. Leipzig are also in contention on50 points, while Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen aren’t farbehind.

The battle for Europe

The top four in the Bundesliga qualify for the ChampionsLeague and those places will almost certainly be taken by four of the fivetitle contenders, with sixth-placed Schalke 10 points adrift.

However, the race for sixth and a spot in the Europa Leaguequalifiers is on. Schalke lead the way on 37 points but they’ll be nervouslylooking over their shoulder, with Wolfsburg and Freiburg just a point behind, meaningtheir final day clash with the latter could essentially be a Europa Leagueplay-off.

Meanwhile, Hoffenheim are sitting pretty on 35 points and FCKoln and Union Berlin aren’t totally out of the picture if they can gather somemomentum.

The relegation scrap

Unlike the Premier League, the Bundesliga relegates thebottom two but gives third-bottom a lifeline in the shape of a play-off againstthird place in the 2. Bundesliga.

Paderborn are currently rock-bottom and face an almightybattle to survive, with 10 points between them and guaranteed safety. WerderBremen are just two points ahead of them, while Dusseldorf are currently in theplay-off spot on 22 points.

Mainz have a bit of breathing space as they sit four pointsclear, but they’ll be desperately seeking points alongside Augsburg, HerthaBerlin and Eintracht Frankfurt, who are far from safe.

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All odds and markets correct as of date of publication