Cologne wins derby against Bayer 04
With heart and passion, FC Schalke 04 won their second away win of the season at the last minute and put pressure on the competition in the Bundesliga relegation battle. Thanks to the dramatic 3:2 (1:0) at FSV Mainz 05 at the start of the 31st matchday, coach Thomas Reis’ team left a relegation zone with 30 points and improved to 14th place in the table at least for one night. However, rivals TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (29), VfB Stuttgart and VfL Bochum (both 28) can overtake again on Saturday.
In front of 33,305 spectators in the sold-out Mainz Arena, Marius Bülter scored in the 26th minute and in the eleventh minute of stoppage time with a penalty kick and Tom Krauß (60th) for the promoted team, who had previously only won 2-0 abroad at the beginning of March succeeded in Bochum. For Mainz, who equalized twice through Leandro Barreiro (53rd) and Aarón Martín (70th), the second defeat in a row meant a severe setback in the fight for an international starting place.
Selke becomes a derby hero for 1. FC Köln: Bayer 04 loses EL dress rehearsal
Undeterred by the discussions about the postponement of the game, 1. FC Köln spoiled the mood of their Rhenish rival Bayer Leverkusen at the start of the hot May. With the 2-1 (2-1) about 15 kilometers northeast of their own arena, FC stopped the impressive run of Leverkusen after 14 competitive games without defeat on Friday evening, missed the “Werkself” a severe setback before the semi-final first leg in Europe League on Thursday at AS Roma and freed himself from the last relegation worries. Bayer, on the other hand, threatens to slip out of the European Cup ranks on the fourth-to-last match day of the Bundesliga. For that, however, VfL Wolfsburg would have to win at title contenders Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.
In the explosive but atmospheric and, according to initial findings, largely peaceful derby, FC striker Davie Selke became a derby hero with his first brace in more than five years (14th/36th minute) and also ensured Cologne’s first win in a game Friday night after six defeats before. Amine Adli had equalized for Bayer (28′). Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso had previously expressed the wish “that we remember this May forever”. The first memory will be negative.
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