It's been a turbulent season for Wolfsburg, and the stakes couldn't be higher as they prepare to host Bayern Munich this Saturday. The Wolves are locked in a desperate fight to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga—a fate that seemed unthinkable for a club that once lifted the league trophy in 2009.

Sitting in 16th place, the relegation play-off spot, Wolfsburg are just six points adrift of safety with two matches remaining. A win against the reigning champions would keep their slim survival hopes alive, but even a draw could prove vital with St. Pauli breathing down their necks. Pauli, in the automatic relegation zone, are level on points with Wolfsburg but trail on goal difference. The two sides face off in the season finale, making Saturday's clash all the more critical.

Finishing 16th would force Wolfsburg into a two-legged play-off against the third-best team from the second division—currently their Lower Saxony neighbors, Hannover. While top-flight clubs typically have the edge in these matchups, Wolfsburg's dismal form—just one win in their last 15 games—makes that prospect daunting.

This dramatic slide is a far cry from the club's glory days. Wolfsburg won the Bundesliga in 2009 and added the German Cup six years later, with Kevin De Bruyne orchestrating attacks. Backed by automotive giant Volkswagen, the club boasts the fifth-highest wage bill in the league, so financial limitations aren't the issue. Instead, off-field instability has derailed their season. Manager Dieter Hecking, appointed in March, is already the third coach this campaign, and both sporting directors have been shown the door.

To make matters worse, Wolfsburg face a Bayern side still smarting from their Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain. The Wolves haven't beaten Bayern since 2015—a 23-game winless streak—and suffered an 8-1 thrashing in Munich earlier this season. With the odds stacked against them, Wolfsburg will need a monumental effort to keep their Bundesliga status alive.