Bundesliga: Hertha relegation prevented late – VfB & Arminia hope

Haaland three-pack is not enough

Hertha BSC and coach Felix Magath slipped out of their hands at the last second, while Arminia Bielefeld is hoping to stay in the class again. Defender Joakim Nilsson saved the penultimate from Bielefeld in the 1-1 (0-0) in the basement duel of the third to last matchday in injury time and the realistic hope of relegation. The East Westphalians are two points behind VfB Stuttgart on the relegation place.

With a four-point lead over VfB and six over Arminia, the Berliners are well on the way to staying up. But that would almost have been fixed on Saturday. After Lucas Tousart (55th) made it 1-0, Hertha looked like the winner for a long time and was therefore assured. Stuttgart’s 1-1 draw in the parallel game against Wolfsburg already prevented the rescue party, and Nilsson’s equalizer a few seconds later also secured victory.

Late 1: 1 against Wolfsburg: VfB Stuttgart is still hoping for direct rescue

VfB Stuttgart has at least kept its small chance of remaining directly in the Bundesliga. The Swabians separated 1:1 (0:1) from VfL Wolfsburg, which also made the last step to stay up. Defender John Anthony Brooks put the visitors ahead in the 13th minute in front of 52,230 fans. Substitute Chris Führich made it 1-1 in the 89th minute, ensuring that VfB could still save the game directly and prevent relegation.

Weak FC Bayern surprisingly lost at Mainz 05

FC Bayern suffered their fifth defeat of the season in the Bundesliga after a less than masterful performance. A week after successfully defending their title, the Munich team lost 3-1 (2-1) at 1. FSV Mainz 05.

Jonathan Burkardt (18th minute), Moussa Niakhaté (27th) and Leandro Barreiro (57th) scored in front of 33,305 fans in the sold-out Mainz Arena for the hosts, who played like unleashed and ended their negative series of five games without a win in a spectacular way. Robert Lewandowski’s 34th goal of the season (33rd) was not enough for Bayern, who had changed four positions and offered a disappointing performance.

Even three Haaland goals are not enough: BVB is subject to VfL Bochum

Borussia Dortmund have suffered another embarrassing setback near the end of an already mixed season. Despite all good intentions to offer the fans at least a conciliatory Bundesliga final sprint after early knockouts in Europe and in the DFB Cup, coach Marco Rose’s team lost in the small Revierderby to VfL Bochum 3: 4 (2: 2). In front of 81,365 spectators in the sold-out Signal Iduna Park, second in the table offered a disappointing performance despite Erling Haaland’s three goals (19th penalty, 30th penalty and 62nd).

In contrast, Bochum, who had already led 2-0 after a lightning start and goals from Sebastian Polter (3rd) and Gerrit Holtmann (8th), achieved a respectable win. The well-deserved victory, secured by Joker Jürgen Locadia (81st) and Milos Pantovic (86th/penalty), eliminated all doubts about staying in the class for the promoted team.

1. FC Köln in a European mood – FC Augsburg practically saved

Thanks to double packer Anthony Modeste, 1. FC Köln is ready for the European Cup, but FC Augsburg is practically saved. The Rhinelanders confirmed their international ambitions with a rapid 4:1 (2:0) and improved to sixth place in the table, which would open the way to the Europa Conference League.

The battered Augsburgers missed the perfect relegation in front of their own fans two games before the end of the season – but six points ahead of relegation place 16 can hardly be gambled away.

The Cologne team, who are strong in combinations, quickly made a powerful statement with a double strike. Jan Thielmann (12th minute), who had started in place of defensive midfielder Salih Özcan who was suspended, made the move. Mark Uth (15th) increased shortly afterwards in front of 29,511 spectators.

After Jeffrey Gouweleeuw fouled Modeste in the sixteenth minute, the striker made everything clear himself in the 63rd minute. It was the 18th goal of the season for the Frenchman, who held his own coffee up to the camera during an unusual and much-criticized goal celebration a week ago.

Substitute Florian Niederlechner (73′) was able to overcome the safe Cologne defense around keeper Marvin Schwäbe before Modeste (77′) was successful again after a combination. In the duels against Wolfsburg and Stuttgart, coach Steffen Baumgart’s team can secure their ticket to Europe on their own.

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