by Oliver Trust

BERLIN, April 19 (Xinhua) -- To support the town's struggling first-division football team in its fight against relegation, the major of Wolfsburg has used an unusual way.

Dennis Weilmann in a published video message asked the town's football fans to intensify their efforts to back the VfL Wolfsburg.

"Many fans seem disappointed by the season so far; so am I. Nevertheless, the team needs support in the stormy times to avoid the worst case," the politician said.

As a fact, while the national league title is finally resting on the account of Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen, the relegation battle in the German first flight turns into a nail-biting issue with eight clubs involved.

With five rounds of matches to go in the 2023-2024 season, Union (29 points), Wolfsburg (28), Bochum (27), Mainz (26), and Cologne (22) seem in trouble aside from newly promoted Darmstadt (14), which seems already lost.

Moenchengladbach and Bremen (both 31) only need a few points to reach safe waters but are far from a relaxed state.

In the upcoming 30th match-day, Cologne, facing bottom side Darmstadt, and Wolfsburg, expecting relegation rival Bochum, have the chance to gain ground.

Union on home soil against Bayern and Mainz in Freiburg find themselves ahead of tricky tasks. While Bayern is keen on keeping its international flow after proceeding to the UEFA Champions League semifinal against Real, Freiburg is in sight of international competition spots.

Except for Darmstadt, all clubs have triggered a change in their head-coaching.

SVD coach Torsten Lieberknecht is openly talking about the near relegation as his side, depending on the match-day outcome, might already be relegated this weekend.

"We must stay competitive despite the situation. There will be no presents to others," the 50-year-old said after 23 winless games.

For all others hopes seem alive considering the tight standings as only four points lie between the 11th Moenchengladbach (31) and the 15th Bochum (27).

After crossing swords with Darmstadt, Cologne is facing direct duels with further relegation rivals such as Mainz and Union, while the effects of Bochum's recently triggered change of their coach has to be seen.

Bochum finds itself ahead of direct encounters against rivals such as Wolfsburg, Union, and Bremen aside from games against the new national Champion Leverkusen and Hoffenheim. Enditem

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