Bundesliga Odds: Who Will Secure a Top Four Finish After Matchday 26?

The Champions League is a highly prestigious competition where only the most elite teams in Europe’s leagues play. A place in Europe’s biggest competition can have a massive financial influence on some clubs and can also determine the quality of players a club attracts.

This season, the Bundesliga race for a place in a Champions League spot has been a great battle between the top six sides, as even Bayern Munich have had a period in fourth place this season.

Now, the 2019/20 season is fast approaching its end and German top-flight sides are battling it out for the highly contested fourth place. We take a deeper look at who will most likely finish in the top four and earn themselves a place in the Champions League next season.

Unsurprisingly, RB Leipzig have been rated by Paddy Power as a favourite to finish in the top four with odds of 1/50, while Dortmund have been almost guaranteed a Champions League spot with odds of 1/200.

Currently sitting in fourth place after only managing a draw with seventh place SC Freiburg recently, Leipzig are very likely going to secure a top four place for a third consecutive season, this year.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side have amassed a 51-point total, and have even managed to hold a place at the top of the Bundesliga for a period this season. A difficult run of games against the German top six sides saw them drop points, however, taking them from a title race to a battle for top four.

Although, Die Rotten Bullen will take comfort in the fact their star striker, Timo Werner, is in the best form of his life this season, scoring 21 goals in 26 games thus far, already equalling his best ever tally with eight games still to play.

The German forward's goals have contributed to his side having scored the third-highest number of league goals this season and will likely continue to add to his tally and break his personal league record.

With relatively straightforward fixtures remaining for Leipzig, including six lower half the table sides and the exception of Borussia Dortmund, fans of the German side will be confident that Werner and his side can take them to a European spot once again this season.

Despite currently sitting in third place, Borussia Monchengladbach Paddy Power have given them better odds than fourth place Leipzig, with odds of 1/3.

The German giants are en route for their first Champions League spot finish since the 2015/16 season, acquiring 52 points from their 26 games so far.

Now sitting five points ahead of fifth-place Bayer Leverkusen, Marco Rose’s men are in a good position to hold their position in the top four after comfortably beating Eintracht Frankfurt, 3-1, in their last fixture.

Among their ranks, one to watch out for is young French forward, Marcos Thuram - the son of FIFA World Cup winner, Lilian Thuram. The 22-year-old is the Gladbach top scorer this season with 11 goals and will surely continue to be a danger to defences with the help of his fellow French teammate, Alassane Plea – who has netted nine times this season.

Fans of Die Borussen will be hopeful their star-men and manager, Rose, will be successful in securing a Champions League spot and will be confident in their sides most recent run of games, however, with first-place Munich and top four challengers Leverkusen still in their remaining fixture list, Monchengladbach will need to ensure they secure as many points as possible from their lesser fixtures if they are to secure a top-four finish.

Paddy Power have given Bayer Leverkusen an outsiders chance to qualify for the Champions League in a top position, with odds of 11/8.

Leverkusen are currently in fifth position behind Leipzig and Monchengladbach and are perhaps the most unlikely of the three to finish in a top four place, when considering their remaining fixtures. Die Werkself still has to play five of the top nine teams, with three of those sides currently in the top six.

Perhaps the most important of these remaining fixtures will be their matchup with third place Gladbach, as a win would see them within touching distance of a highly sought after position among the Bundesliga top four.

Peter Bosz, manager Leverkusen, will be looking at his players to keep the pressure on the likes of Leipzig and Gladbach in order to provide their fans with the opportunity of Champions League football next season and attaining a place in the top four for a second season in a row.

Bosz will be looking for his young talisman, Kai Havertz, to provide his side with the edge they will need to compete for their goals as he has done for a large part of the season.

The 20-year-old has been one of the league's most impressive talents this season, scoring six and assisting five for Leverkusen, and both his manager and fans will be looking for the young talent to help his side to a Champions League finish before his highly anticipated move to one of Europe’s elite sides.

By Bradley Beecham