article_snippet: Having seen Schalke and Leverkusen Champions League campaigns for the current season end Borussia Dortmund  this weekend step up attempts to be back in Europe's elite competition next season.
article_snippet: Dortmund's 3-0 defeat at home to Juventus on Wednesday night means Schalke and Leverkusen now have the biggest challenge on Schalke and Leverkusen hands to get back into the competition next season.
article_snippet: Schalke and Leverkusen travel to Hannover on Saturday needing to make up 12 points on the top four in the final nine games of the season, or eight points to qualify for Champions League.
article_snippet: the Serie A side look unlikely with the absence of European football potentially for the next 18 months a sobering thought for Dortmund . '
article_snippet: There's nothing good about getting knocked out of Champions League.
article_snippet: Okay, so the German don't have any more midweek games, but that's an advantage that the German don't necessarily want. '
article_snippet: Nevertheless, the German will use it for training.'
article_snippet: Schalke and Leverkusen lie fourth and fifth respectively and Schalke and Leverkusen meet on Saturday evening in a clash that could be pivotal in terms of qualifying for next season's competition.
article_snippet: While runaway leaders Bayern Munich can secure runaway leaders Bayern Munich place in Champions League next season by beating Borussia Monchengladbach on Sunday, if Fellow Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen drop points at Schalke.
highlights_snippet: Jurgen Klopp's side 12 points off fourth  in Bundesliga with nine games left .
  
highlights_snippet: Schalke and Leverkusen set for pivotal qualification clash on Saturday .