Movement in the table basement
On Saturday afternoon the focus in the Bundesliga was on the relegation zone. Hertha BSC managed a win against European Cup hopefuls Hoffenheim, as did VfB Stuttgart, who are now in 14th place after beating Augsburg at home. While Arminia Bielefeld lost at Mainz 05, bottom-placed Greuther Fürth was unable to significantly close the gap at the top with a draw against Freiburg.
Hertha BSC wins against but without Magath against Hoffenheim
Felix Magath made his digital debut as coach of Hertha BSC with great success. With instructions from the new head coach from the hotel, who was suffering from Corona, and an enormously committed deputy Mark Fotheringham on the sidelines, the recently despondent and desperate Berliners showed a courageous performance on Saturday that had not been thought possible for so long.
The reward: The 3-0 (1-0) against Champions League candidate TSG 1899 Hoffenheim as the highest win of the season and a lot of new hope in the relegation battle of the Bundesliga. Niklas Stark (39th minute), Ishak Belfodil (63rd) and Lucas Tousart (74th) scored in front of 25,000 spectators for the first victory of Hertha, which was defeated five times in a row, this year.
3: 2 after a 1: 2 deficit: Stuttgart wins a basement duel against Augsburg
The catch-up hunters from VfB Stuttgart have left the Bundesliga relegation zone for the time being. The Swabians defeated FC Augsburg 3-2 (1-2) in an intense basement duel on Saturday and moved up to 14th place in the table. André Hahn (6th minute) and Michael Gregoritsch (45+1) scored for Augsburg in front of 55,785 spectators, Waldemar Anton (44th) scored the interim 1-1 for VfB.
In the closing stages, Omar Marmoush (79′) and Tiago Tomás (85′) turned the game in favor of the hosts with their goals. Augsburg in 15th, like VfB and Hertha BSC in relegation rank 16, now has 26 points, but still has one more game to play than its direct competitors.
Mainz wins with three penalties – Bielefeld is now 17th.
After a curiosity with the video evidence, FSV Mainz 05 won again for the first time since the Corona quarantine and significantly increased Arminia Bielefeld’s concerns about relegation. The hosts prevailed 4-0 (1-0) within just 14 minutes thanks to three penalties and now, with 37 points, they no longer have to worry about relegation.
National player Jonathan Burkardt scored the fastest goal of the current league season after 27 seconds, and Moussa Niakhaté (65th / penalty kick), Burkardt again (75th / penalty kick) and Marcus Ingvartsen (79th / penalty kick) scored in front of 25,000 spectators in Corona -Conditions sold out Mainz stadium.
After a quarter of an hour, one of the strangest scenes of the current Bundesliga season took place: After a dangerous header from Niakhaté, referee Felix Zwayer initially let the ball continue because goalkeeper Stefan Ortega had apparently cleared the ball in front of the line. But then, long after the game had continued, Zwayer got the delayed signal for the goal via his radio clock. After a request from the video assistant referee (VAR), Zwayer watched the scene again and denied the goal again. Apparently there was a technical problem.
Streich’s record has to wait: Freiburg stumbles at Greuther Fürth
Despite a meager yield at bottom of the table SpVgg Greuther Fürth, SC Freiburg has moved up to fourth place in the Champions League for at least one night. The Bundesliga club from Breisgau had to settle for a 0-0 draw against the league bottom team from Franconia. In front of 9884 spectators in the Ronhof sports park, Freiburg’s Roland Sallai (13th) and Janik Haberer (66th) failed on aluminum. Timothy Tillman (28th) missed the best chance for the game association.
Christian Streich has to wait for his 105th victory as SC coach and the sole club record. Fürth, on the other hand, has to hope for a football miracle at the end of the season. After 27 match days, the Franks are at 15 points. Relegation place 16 is getting further and further away.
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