HEIDENHEIM, Germany — Dis weekend, Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga dey set for dramatic showdown as 1. FC Heidenheim go face SV Elversberg for promotion/relegation play-off. As na tradition, di 16th-placed team for di Bundesliga go battle di third-placed side for di second tier to determine who go join di top flight next season.
Heidenheim finish di season for relegation play-off spot after dem lose 1-4 against Werder Bremen on di final matchday, despite giving dem a good run for di money in di previous campaign, where dem secure eighth place in their debut Bundesliga season.
Coach Frank Schmidt believe say his players still get chance to stay in di league. “We no dey disappointed to play dis play-off,” di 51-year-old express. “We don already put in di work in dis league. With two extra games, we go approach dem with determination,” e add.
On di odas side, Elversberg cap di season well with 2-1 win against Schalke, dem secure third place in di 2. Bundesliga. For a club wey never play above di third tier before dis season, promotion go be historic achievement for dem.
Di financial impact wey come with promotion no fit overemphasize. Heidenheim CEO Holger Sanwald don talk am clear say if dem go down, dem annual budget go chop from €80 million to around €40 million due to media revenue cut.
Elversberg dey eye a major financial boost. Di club don receive €8 million for TV money dis season, but dat figure fit jump to roughly €30 million in di Bundesliga. Dis alone fit almost double dia total revenue from last year, wey be €16.3 million.
Despite dem finishing 16th on di log and in di relegation play-off spot, Heidenheim show say dem fit still perform better. Dem go need more den just a win; dem goal differential no dey good at -24, compared to Hoffenheim wey dey -18, and St. Pauli wey dey -11.
Dem head into dis weekend’s game knowing sey Hoffenheim dey face Bayern Munich, wey don already clinch di title but fit scatter o. Heidenheim need miracle wey go give dem a seven-goal swing for dem hope to stay safe.
As dem prepare for di play-offs, Heidenheim go play without three first-team players wey dey injured. On di other hand, Wehr Bremen no get anything for dem side for di season again but dey looking to end di campaign on a high note.
In another matter, Jobe Bellingham dey expected to make decision on im future soon, as Borussia Dortmund don mark am as dia top target after dem qualify for di Champions League last match. Di youngster, brother of Jude Bellingham wey dey Real Madrid, fit see transfer fee of around €25 million if im decide to leave Sunderland.
Dortmund dey optimistic sey Bellingham go consider di move as e go give am more first-team opportunities and also di appeal of Champions League participation.
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