Berlin (AFP)

"Honestly, we don't care about second place. What matters is the Champions League." Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann set the tone for the relentless pursuit between Leverkusen and Mönchengladbach in the last two Bundesliga days.

This season, the "gang of five" (Bayern, Dortmund, Leipzig, Leverkusen, Mönchengladbach) has long widened the gap. Problem: only four of them will qualify for the next Champions League.

For Bayern Munich (76 points) already assured of the title, and for Borussia Dortmund (66 pts), the case is in the bag: they will certainly play the most prestigious European competition in 2020-2021.

But the last two days, this Saturday (all matches at 3.30 p.m.) and Saturday 27, will be decisive for RB Leipzig (63 pts), Bayer Leverkusen (60 pts) and Borussia M'Gladbach (59 pts).

Access to the lucrative UEFA event is not only a sporting issue. It is also an essential element in the development of these three ambitious clubs, with means however still limited compared to the big ones in Europe and affected by the coronavirus crisis.

- Leipzig fireproof -

RB Leipzig, autumn champion at the end of the first matches, plays very big on Saturday at home against Dortmund. If he wins, he mathematically ensures access to the Champions League, and takes at least provisionally second place. If he loses, he will have no room for error for the last day!

The Saxons put themselves in danger by conceding a 2-2 draw in overtime to the barracks specialist Düsseldorf on Wednesday after leading 2-0 until the 87th minute.

The RB, qualified for the quarter-finals of the current edition, which will end in August in Portugal in the form of an eight-a-side tournament, will also have to overcome the psychological shock of the announcement Thursday of the transfer of its favorite scorer Timo Werner to Chelsea .

Under rules set by UEFA, the player who has already scored 26 Bundesliga goals this season should not be able to finish the C1 in August with either Leipzig or Chelsea (who has yet to play a knockout round against Bayern after lost 3-0 in London on the outward journey).

- No joker for M'Gladbach -

Leader of the championship from October to early December, currently fifth a point behind Leverkusen, Mönchengladbach should not let go and just hope that his competitors will make a false move.

Without their two top scorers Alassane Pléa (muscle problem) and Marcus Thuram (ankle injury), the "Foals" defeated Wolfsburg 3-0 Tuesday, thanks to a double from Jonas Hofmann, who managed to make the two Frenchmen forget, for whom the season is over.

"We cannot ignore that important players have missed us in the last two or three games, and that they will still be missed," admits Hofmann.

But his teammate Matthias Ginter, the central back of the German selection, put things well clear: "The Champions League is obviously our goal. Before the season, we would have signed for fifth place, but in view of the season that we did, we're going to give it our all to finish fourth. "

- Leverkusen in a position of strength -

Fourth, the Bayer of the Kai Havertz and Moussa Diaby nuggets holds its destiny in its hands.

He still has a trip to Berlin against Hertha and the reception of Mainz, current 15th, to validate his ticket for the queen competition.

If he succeeds, it will be his second consecutive Champions League: the club was eliminated this season in the group stage and returned to the Europa League, where he is still in the running.

He is scheduled to play a return quarterfinal home game against the Rangers (3-1 Glasgow win first leg), postponed to March due to the Covid-19 epidemic.

- The calendar of the three contenders -

Saturday June 20

. Leipzig - Dortmund

. Hertha Berlin - Leverkusen

. Paderborn - Mönchengladbach

Saturday June 27

. Leverkusen - Mainz

. Mönchengladbach - Hertha Berlin

. Augsburg - Leipzig

© 2020 AFP