16. мај 2026.

Bundesliga relegation battle: what Wolfsburg, Heidenheim and St. Pauli need on the final day

Three clubs. One afternoon. The Bundesliga survival race comes down to Wolfsburg, Heidenheim and St. Pauli, all locked on 26 points before the last matchday. The table is razor tight, so every goal matters when kickoffs roll in on May 26 at 15:30.

The table before kickoff

– 16th Wolfsburg: 26 pts, 6-8-19, goal difference -26, goals scored 42. Recent form: L W D D L.
– 17th Heidenheim: 26 pts, 6-8-19, goal difference -29, goals scored 41. Recent form: W L W D W.
– 18th St. Pauli: 26 pts, 6-8-19, goal difference -29, goals scored 28. Recent form: L D L L L.

Bundesliga tiebreakers prioritize goal difference, then goals scored. That small three-goal cushion keeps Wolfsburg ahead of both Heidenheim and St. Pauli for now.

Fixtures that decide everything

– St. Pauli vs Wolfsburg
– Heidenheim vs Mainz 05

One head-to-head and one scoreboard-watching special. The St. Pauli vs Wolfsburg clash directly shifts two places, while Heidenheim’s result against Mainz 05 can flip the entire bottom three.

Who needs what to survive

Wolfsburg
– A win at St. Pauli moves them to 29 points and guarantees finishing above St. Pauli. It also likely keeps them ahead of Heidenheim unless Heidenheim win by a margin big enough to erase the goal difference gap.
– A draw puts Wolfsburg on 27 points and secures at least 16th place regardless of Heidenheim’s result, which means the relegation playoff at minimum.
– A loss leaves Wolfsburg on 26 points and in serious danger. They would need Heidenheim to lose to avoid 18th, but even then 17th still means automatic relegation. In short, they must avoid defeat.

Heidenheim
– A win to 29 points guarantees they escape the bottom two. Final position depends on the other match and goal difference swings.
– A draw to 27 points only helps if Wolfsburg lose. In a three-way tie at 27, Heidenheim sit behind Wolfsburg on goal difference and above St. Pauli on goals scored.
– A loss leaves them on 26 and at real risk of 18th if St. Pauli take anything or if Wolfsburg avoid defeat.

St. Pauli
– A win over Wolfsburg takes them to 29 points and flips the table. That result guarantees they finish above Wolfsburg and keeps them out of the automatic drop.
– A draw to 27 points is not enough if Wolfsburg are the opponent. Wolfsburg would still stay ahead on goal difference, leaving St. Pauli in 17th unless Heidenheim lose and change the calculus above them, which still would not lift St. Pauli into 16th.
– A loss leaves them relying on Mainz 05 to stop Heidenheim and then hoping goal difference breaks kindly. It is a long shot.

Numbers to watch on Sofascore

Goal difference is the currency of the day, especially in the St. Pauli vs Wolfsburg showdown. Wolfsburg start with the best cushion at -26, while Heidenheim and St. Pauli sit at -29. Goals scored will be the next filter if teams finish level on goal difference, where Heidenheim’s 41 gives them a clear edge over St. Pauli’s 28.

Follow live standings, momentum graphs and every Sofascore Rating as the drama plays out. With each goal, the table will update in real time and show who is safe, who is in the playoff, and who is down.

The latest stories

Brazil vs Morocco pregame: World Cup Group C opens with a heavyweight test at MetLife

13. јун 2026.

Scotland at the World Cup 2026: form, fixtures and players to watch

13. јун 2026.

Chris Richards sets 83/83 World Cup passing record

13. јун 2026.

Written by Petar Bubalo

16. мај 2026.

Bundesliga relegation battle: what Wolfsburg, Heidenheim and St. Pauli need on the final day

The table before kickoff

Bundesliga tiebreakers prioritize goal difference, then goals scored. That small three-goal cushion keeps Wolfsburg ahead of both Heidenheim and St. Pauli for now.

Fixtures that decide everything

– St. Pauli vs Wolfsburg
– Heidenheim vs Mainz 05

One head-to-head and one scoreboard-watching special. The St. Pauli vs Wolfsburg clash directly shifts two places, while Heidenheim’s result against Mainz 05 can flip the entire bottom three.