While the race for the Bundesliga title looks slightly different to the one taking place in the Premier League, the fight as the bottom of the German and English top flight could play out a similar way.
Both divisions have a few teams in desperate need of wins to avoid dropping down to their respective second tiers, while there’s a pool of clubs above nervously looking over their shoulders.
Trio Must Fight Or Risk Being Cut Adrift
There’s a fierce battle at the bottom of the Premier League standings to avoid a swift return back down to the Championship. Sheffield United, who are currently priced at 1/100 in the Premier League relegation odds to go down, are battling with the likes of Burnley and Luton Town to avoid the drop. Making the step up to the head table of English football has proven difficult for all three clubs, while last season all three teams that were promoted managed to finish outside of the bottom three.
Meanwhile in the Bundesliga, the likes of SV Darmstadt 98, Mainz 05 and 1. FC Köln know they have work to do if they intend to play top-flight football next season. With just one win in their first 18 games of the season, Mainz will have to improve significantly in the second half of the season if they are to turn their fortunes around. Turning draws into wins will be key for Die Geißböcke, having played out eight draws in those first 18 outings. If they are to climb the standings, it’s in the final third where they need improvement, having scored just 14 goals in 18 league games.
Darmstadt have recorded two wins in their first 19 outings and it’s in defence where they require the most work to get out of trouble. Conceding 47 goals in those first 19 appearances, no other side has conceded more at that stage of the season. Köln, who have brought in manager Timo Schultz to turn their fortunes around, are in a similar situation with just two wins to their name in the first 19 games of the campaign and conceding 34 goals in that time has done them no favours.
In England, it’s a similar situation for Sheffield United, Burnley and Luton, who are all scrapping to keep up with those clubs lingering around the relegation zone.
Teams Can Easily Get Dragged In
The task of the teams above the relegation zone will be getting wins over the coming weeks to avoid what could be a tremendously nervous end to the season for their respective fan bases. 1. FC Union Berlin was one of the surprise packages in the Bundesliga last term and finished up in fourth place in the standings to secure Champions League football. This season has been a completely different story for Union Berlin, with just 17 points earned over their first 18 games of the campaign.
In the Premier League, it’s Everton who are a big name who find themselves desperate to avoid a nervous end to the season. The Toffees were handed a 10-point deduction, which does slant the table against them in terms of results. If an appeal against the deduction for alleged financial breaches is unsuccessful, Everton will have to dig themselves out of the hole they’ve ended up in. There are players in both the Union Berlin and Everton squads to get the results needed to avoid the drop but getting confidence back in the ranks will be vital in the coming months.
There are intriguing relegation battles in both the Bundesliga and Premier League this season and all eyes will be on how the race plays out in the spring.
