The final match between record winners Bayern Munich and defending champions VfB Stuttgart has direct implications for the distribution of German European competition spots.
With the final pairing between the German champion and the fourth-placed team on May 23rd, it is now definitively confirmed that the seventh-placed team in the Bundesliga will also participate in international competition next season.
The reason for this is that FC Bayern, as champions, have already secured a spot in the Champions League, and Stuttgart is also qualified for European competition through their league position. Thus, the Europa League spot that would go to the cup winner for their success in Berlin will return to the league standings.
Frankfurt Has a Realistic Chance for the Conference League Again
This means: The fifth and sixth-placed teams, currently TSG Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen, will play in the Europa League, and the seventh-placed team will compete in the Conference League. This spot is currently held by SC Freiburg, who were defeated by VfB in the cup semi-final on Thursday with a score of 1-2 after extra time. Eintracht Frankfurt, just one point behind Freiburg, now also has a realistic chance for European competition.
Theoretically, even Champions League participation is still possible for Freiburg. However, coach Julian Schuster’s team would need to win the Europa League. In the semi-finals (April 30th and May 7th), they will face Portuguese club Sporting Braga, and in a potential final (May 20th in Istanbul), they could meet Nottingham Forest or Aston Villa from the English Premier League.