30th matchday
Berlin (AP) – Borussia Dortmund is celebrating a goal festival, Hertha BSC is enough to be happy this Saturday. There are four more games in the Bundesliga on Sunday – FC Bayern can pave the way to the title game.
Teenager:
Tom Rothe looked happy as he re-watched his own goal on Sky screen. “Not so bad,” said the 17-year-old about his first goal in the Bundesliga – in his first Bundesliga appearance. It was the start of BVB’s furious 6:1 win over VfL Wolfsburg. Raphael Guerreiro’s absence helped Rothe make his debut, and he no longer needs Easter presents. “I’m happy with the game. Nevertheless, I’m looking forward to collecting eggs with my family,” said Rothe, who switched to BVB from FC St. Pauli’s youth team last summer. He is now the fourth youngest goalscorer in the Bundesliga.
Derby:
The whistles in Borussia Park were already blaring at the break. Borussia Mönchengladbach trailed 3-0 against 1. FC Köln on Saturday evening. And it didn’t get much better. For the third time in a row, Borussia lost the derby against FC, in the end it was 1: 3 from Gladbach’s point of view. And Cologne dreams of the European Cup. For the time being, FC is in sixth place. The traveling fans celebrated coach Steffen Baumgart. “We have said that we want to attack internationally,” he said. “We still have four important games against teams that are still fighting to stay in the Bundesliga. Those are the most difficult games.”
Lead Player:
This personnel decision by Felix Magath has paid off. The coach from Hertha BSC, who was brought in as a rescuer, ordered the 35-year-old Kevin-Prince Boateng into the starting XI for the game at FC Augsburg – and he showed a strong performance. “The coach told me he needs me,” said Boateng on Sky after the important 1-0. “There was so much criticism of the team, it was an important win, also mentally.” Due to the success, Hertha ranks 15th – the next two opponents Stuttgart and Bielefeld are direct competitors. “It was a great team effort,” said Magath.
dress rehearsal:
Things are going well at SC Freiburg. With the 3-0 win against VfL Bochum, the Breisgauers remain clearly on course for the European Cup. The path may even lead to the group stage of the Champions League. First of all, the focus is on next Tuesday: “We have a difficult game, we want to win and go to Berlin,” said Roland Sallai, who scored twice on Saturday, with a view to the semi-finals of the DFB Cup at second division Hamburger SV. At least the dress rehearsal in the Bundesliga was successful.
Outlook:
In addition to the zero number at FSV Mainz 05, the victory of the next opponent and also threatened competitor Hertha BSC in Augsburg worsened the mood of those responsible at VfB Stuttgart. “We still have everything under control. We know how important the game will be,” said VfB coach Pellegrino Matarazzo. Stuttgart plays in Berlin next Sunday, Hertha ranks 15th with one point more than VfB in relegation place 16.
Championship:
This Sunday (3.30 p.m. / DAZN), FC Bayern can pave the way for Arminia in Bielefeld, who are threatened with relegation, to perfect their tenth championship title in a row against Borussia Dortmund the following weekend. However, coach Julian Nagelsmann has to do without defender Lucas Hernández and winger Kingsley Coman.
European Cup heroes and a near relegation:
After their successful appearances in the Europa League, Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig are still playing for places in the European Cup for next season. Frankfurt’s Barça winners are guests at 1. FC Union Berlin (5.30 p.m. / DAZN), Leipzig will play at Champions League co-aspirant Bayer Leverkusen (7.30 p.m. / DAZN). The bottom of the table SpVgg Greuther Fürth cannot be relegated (5.30 p.m. / DAZN) even if they lose at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. However, the Franconians can hardly be saved from relegation.