Nuremberg cracks the 40-point mark
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FC Schalke 04 has taken a giant step towards returning to the Bundesliga against their direct rivals SC Paderborn. At the summit of the 2nd Bundesliga, Miron Muslic’s team turned around a 0-2 deficit and won 3-2 (2-2). Three game days before the end of the season, the Royal Blues are six points ahead of Paderborn as leaders and could complete their return to the upper house next Saturday.
In front of 15,000 spectators in the sold-out Paderborn Stadium, Laurin Curda (13th minute) and Stefano Marino (26th) scored early for the home team under Ralf Kettemann. Dejan Ljubicic (35′) and Adil Aouchiche (40′) equalized for Schalke before the break, before Ljubicic (83′) scored the winning goal again.
Thanks to Hofmann’s double pack: Bochum defeated Fürth
VfL Bochum has taken a big step towards staying in the league and has exacerbated SpVgg Greuther Fürth’s relegation worries. Thanks to a brace from Philipp Hofmann in the 1st and 56th minute, VfL celebrated a 2-1 (1-0) win on matchday 31 and, in tenth place, is now six points ahead of the Franconians, who are second to last in the table with 33 points. Noel Futkeu’s 16th goal of the season (88th) came too late for Fürth.
It had only been 48 seconds played and the hosts were already celebrating. Fürth’s defense chief Philipp Ziereis slipped on a cross from Maximilian Wittek, so Hofmann had a free path and was able to effortlessly finish from six meters.
After that, there was pure boredom. Until the 27th minute: After a cross from Paul Will, Fürth’s top scorer Futkeu hit the crossbar with his head. Now things finally got a little livelier on the lawn. Koji Miyoshi narrowly missed VfL’s second goal, as did Branimir Hrgota equalize for the guests on the other side.
After the substitution, Hofmann headed in a corner for the home team. It was the 33-year-old striker’s twelfth goal of the season, who even scored a third time after 65 minutes. However, the goal was disallowed due to a previous offside position.
The Franks only woke up in the final phase. Felix Klaus was first denied by Bochum goalkeeper Timo Horn and then only hit the post. Shortly afterwards, Futkeu gave hope again with the connection, but the equalizer was no longer possible.
Lubach match winner: 1. FC Nürnberg cracks the 40-point mark
Thanks to Rafael Lubach, 1. FC Nürnberg broke the 40-point mark. Coach Miroslav Klose’s team struggled to their eleventh win of the season in a tough duel against 1. FC Magdeburg, who were in acute danger of relegation. Thanks to the wafer-thin 1-0 (1-0) on matchday 31, the Franconians improved to eighth place in the table with 41 points.
In front of 37,712 spectators, it took a courageous individual performance from full-back Henri Koudossou on the right side to spark celebrations. Lubach (45th minute +2), the replacement for the injured striker Mohamed Ali Zoma, shot over the goal line. Magdeburg, who were only dangerous in the final phase, slipped to 16th place.
