Hoffenheim stays tuned
©IMAGO
VfB Stuttgart won the duel for the Champions League places against Bayer Leverkusen and put the Werkself potentially decisively behind. Like VfB, TSG Hoffenheim is now three points ahead of the Rhinelanders thanks to a win against Werder Bremen. RB Leipzig made it third with a home win against St. Pauli, and Augsburg continues to focus on international business after a win against Gladbach.
In the much-hyped 20 million game, Leverkusen got off to a lightning start in Stuttgart: Aleix García scored in the first minute, after which Ermedin Demirovic (5th) was able to quickly equalize. Even before the half-time whistle, Maximilian Mittelstädt (45’+7) converted a penalty to make it 2-1. In the second half, Deniz Undav (58th) increased the score to 3-1.
“There is a lot at stake against Leverkusen and everyone in the stadium knows that,” VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß said before the game. Compared to a possible participation in the Europa League, qualifying for the Champions League would be significantly more financially lucrative: the entry fee alone is 18.6 million euros, more than four times as high (4.3 million euros). A win is worth 2.1 million euros instead of 450,000 euros. Anyone who, like Bayer, makes it to the round of 16 this year will collect eleven million euros. And not just 1.75 million euros, like VfB in the Europa League.
St. Pauli also comes back too late in Leipzig
RB Leipzig is safely in third place and in the Champions League, FC St. Pauli is still threatened with relegation to the 2nd Bundesliga. With a win in front of former and current club grandees Ralf Rangnick and Jürgen Klopp, the Saxons won 2-1 (1-0) in the last home game of the season, which was extremely difficult, especially in the first half. While Leipzig has achieved its goal for the season, St. Pauli remains second to last. On the last match day, the Kiezkickers will have a showdown with VfL Wolfsburg, who will play against FC Bayern on Saturday evening. As in the previous week against Mainz (1:2), Hamburg managed to catch up too late in the game.
In front of 47,800 fans, Xaver Schlager (45th minute) redeemed the Leipzig supporters with what was probably his last goal for RB. The Austrian will leave the club, which has only failed to qualify for a European Cup once since promotion ten years ago. Defense chief Willi Orbán (54th) increased – also after a corner. Shortly before the end, Abdoulie Ceesay (86th) gave Hamburg hope once again, as in the last game against Mainz.
Augsburg’s European Cup dream is alive, Hoffenheim remains in the premier class race
With a clear home win over Borussia Mönchengladbach, FC Augsburg preserved its chance of a place in the European Cup. The Swabians deservedly won 3:1 (2:0) against the Rhinelanders who were lacking in courage and ideas. A brace from Michael Gregoritsch (24th/72nd minute) and a goal from early substitute Robin Fellhauer (42nd) ensured a perfect home finish for FCA in this Bundesliga season. Gladbach’s consolation goal in injury time was scored by Giovanni Reyna.
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim remains in the race for a Champions League place until the end – and leaves Werder Bremen still worried about staying in the league. The superior Kraichgauer team defeated coach Daniel Thioune’s team 1-0 (1-0) on the penultimate Bundesliga matchday. The guests, decimated early on, failed to finally free themselves from the relegation battle on their own in front of 28,128 spectators in the Sinsheim stadium.
Werder had to play with ten men for almost the entire game because Yukinari Sugawara was sent off in the 5th minute. One point would have been enough for the Hanseatic League to make everything clear ahead of time. Bazoumana Touré (26th) scored the winning goal for TSG, who have now been unbeaten in five games. At their season finale in Mönchengladbach, Hoffenheim will fight for fourth place with national rivals VfB Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen.
Notice: If you google something, in addition to the normal results, you will also see a box with current news. If you set Transfermarkt as your preferred source, our content will appear there more often for you. Add TM as a preferred source here.
