Its the business end of the Bundesliga, we have one team promoted from the Zweite Liga, a local derby six pointer, and a nearly crowned champion. That and more in the Bundesliga roundup.
Before the start of Fridays Bundesliga match between FC Augsburg and FC Koln last years relegated side FC Freiburg confirmed their return to the Bundesliga for the next season. The southern club will be a welcome site in the Bundesliga next season and a full profile of the club will be made highlighting the club that will be making its rightful return.
FC Koln found themselves close to the Europa League places after crushing Darmstadt the previous week but like opposition Augsburg neither club was able to extend their two straight wins to three as the clubs played out a 0-0 draw.
In the second half things looked bleak for the Goats as they were down to 10 men after Matthias Lehmann received his second yellow card for a silly tackle. In the end both squads shared the points. Both safe from relegation but the faint hopes of Europe are all but ended for Koln.
Bayern Munich was all set to celebrate themselves as champions of Germany for a fourth consecutive year, only the Foals decided that the Bavarian’s need to be done in Europe before winning the Meisterschale. The match ended 1-1 and nudged Borussia ahead of Berlin in the race for the fourth Champions League place.
Thomas Muller scored a mere six minutes into the match, Bayern’s raumdeuter who was left on the bench midweek, it seemed to be a done deal that the beer would be flowing in Munich. Thing was while Borussia has been horrible on the road they showed some grit and the goal from Andre Hahn was an example of how Monchengladbach thoroughly defeated the champions in the fall.
A relegation six pointer of all six pointers was at stake with Werder Bremen and VfB Stuttgart. Whatever was eaten by the Swabians needs to never be eaten as a pre match meal as the hosts rose from the relegation ranks via their convincing 6-2 victory.
The first half had plenty of fireworks as Bremen took an early lead via Fin Bartels, only to be brought to level terms by Daniel Didavi. Sadly an own goal in the 33rd minute, the record seventh this year, meant that the lead was to be always in the northern club’s advantage. For a brief moment a second Stuttgart goal via the own goal scorer Federico Barba gave a glimpse of hope but it was fleeting. Claudio Pizarro scored his 12 goal in the second half of the season, Bartels added a second goal and Nigerian Anthony Ujah added his own.
Niko Kovac’s Eintracht Frankfurt was coming off a hard fought Rhein Main derby victory and had themselves a Hessian derby with Darmstadt to get out of the relegation zone. Darmstadt has not pulled themselves away from the relegation places and was looking to do so in front of their home fans. And only the Darmstadt fans were allowed to attend the match after the actions of Frankfurt fans in the match in the fall. A late winner found Eintracht out of the relegation zone for the first time in over a month.
Early on Mario Vrancic’s early goal seemed to be the kind of scrappy goal that the club has gotten all year long as the ball slipped past Frankfurt keeper Lucas Hradecky. It was in the second half the spirit installed by the new manager came through for the Eagles. A corner kick looked to have been cleared but a mere foot on the ball from long range, and a diflection, and Makoto Hasebe scored the equalizer to silence the boisterous crowd. This seemed to spur the team on and in the 83rd minute off a corner Stefan Aigner, who had a concussion scare the week before, to put Eintracht up and give credence to their relegation survival.
Bayer Leverkusen was looking to seal up their place in the Champions League as they faced rivals for this place Hertha Berlin. End result, the pharmaceutical funded club will be in the group stage and Berlin will be seeking a way in with two weeks after a 2-1 match at the Bay Arena.
A talking point was teenager Julian Brandt scoring in the second minute to give him six straight matches with a goal. A superstar in the making and when you are playing to the left of Chicharito you can develop into a great player. Lars Bender scored before the 21st minute Berlin goal from St Louis raised Vedad Ibisevic only for the next 79 minutes to not provide any more scoring after such a rip roaring start.
Borussia Dortmund benefited from Bayern dropping points as they put one of the biggest hurts on VfL Wolfsburg 5-1 with two matches remaining in the Bundesliga season.
BVB looked to be in total control so early on that it was no surprise that a loud cheer emanated from the stands when word of the equalizer in Munich occurred. Sinji Kagawa and Adrian Ramos scored within the first 10 minutes to get the early lead. Marco Reus and a pair of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made it negligible when Andre Schurrle scored a late goal for the wolves.
Hoffenheim escaped the relegation zone in all but mathematical situations with a solid come from behind victory over FC Ingolstadt in a 2-1 match featuring a late winning goal.
FC Ingolstadt is in turmoil as they look to a future without manager Ralph Hasenhuttl who turned down a new extension. Red Bull Leipzig is offering the man a great opportunity with a lot more money than he will receive by staying at Ingolstadt. Hoffenheim pounced on the opportunity with a late first half equalizer from Mark Uth and Nadiem Amiri for the winning goal. Julian Nagelsmann has done well to keep this side in the Bundesliga after taking over from Hubb Stevens’ mess.
Schalke 04 realized their potential in just a tiny fashion by thrashing already relegated Hannover 96 in a convincing 3-1 victory that places the club firmly into a Europa League place for 2-16-17.
Hannover has been horrible for most of the season. The midseason hiring of Thomas Schaaf was a big mistake and now they prepare for life in the second division. Schalke got goals from Eric Choupo-Moting, Klass-Jan Huntelaar and Alessandro Schopf as they didn’t look threatened. Heck there wasn’t even a card in this match to be found.
Mainz 05 has been leaking points of late and it was not staunched by playing a safe and secure Hamburg. The match ended 0-0 which did not help the hopes of European competition for Mainz for next season.
Both teams looked a little bit deflated after differing results in their respective derbies in the previous week. Mainz getting the point keeps five points between them and FC Koln who have BVB and Bremen as their remaining fixtures.
German Football words
Raumdeuter- Thomas Muller is one and is used to describe his style as a space invader
Meisterschale-The name of the Bundesliga trophy given to the winner of the Bundesliga each season
Ruckspiel-second game of a two legged tie, such as Bayern’s second leg against Atletico Madrid
Bayern’s Ruckspiel with Madrid
After having a majority of the chances it was a moment of brilliance that separated the sides in the first leg. Now Munich faces the resilient Atletico Madrid knowing that they not only need a goal but two to head south towards Milan. Pep Guardiola has critiqued on how his squad performed in the first leg and rightfully so. Thomas Muller was left on the bench and he has a motor that doesn’t quit. Atletico gets down and dirty and this will be the single hardest match that Bayern will have had all year.
Prediciton: 1-1 with the late equalizer for Madrid to knockout the German champions at the semifinals for the third year running
