Bayer 04 Leverkusen can finally bury the hopes of defending the title. At FC St. Pauli, the workself did not get beyond a draw.
Only one victory at FC St. Pauli was able to maintain the hope of all the Bayer 04 Leverkusen involved that the title defense could remain at least a theoretical schedule even after the 30th matchday. The team of coach Xabi Alonso did not do this task in Hamburg and had to be content with a disappointing 1: 1 (1: 0).
This grew the gap to Bayern to eight points on the remaining four match days, and Leverkuseners also have the poorer goal difference. The winning of the championship would theoretically be possible, but it is more of a utopia than a realistic opportunity.
The team of Alexander Blessin, on the other hand, expanded their lead over relegation place 16 to eight points and should therefore have almost safe relegation.
Florian Wirtz should judge it
Coach Alonso wanted nothing to leave and for the first time after his inner ligament injury in his right ankle, which he suffered in the game against Bremen, after his inner ligament injury, in the starting XI. However, the best player in the Leverkusen player took around half an hour to find the game.
Also because the Hamburgers tried to take the Leverkusener from the first minute. They played extremely aggressive pressing. The Paulians had a lot of energy at the beginning and thus forced the Werkself for many ball losses. The hosts could not develop real goal opportunities.
St. Pauli with a good start
And then suddenly the individual class of the Rhinelander showed itself. They managed to accelerate the pace from one second to the other and bring Jeremie Frimpong into a good shot position. The offensive player clearly missed the goal from nine meters (14th). Luck for the team of coach Blessin.
Both teams then worked out intensively. Except for duels, there were hardly any 30,000 spectators in the stadium for the almost 30,000 spectators.
Chic with successful header
It was a standard situation that changed the game in favor of the Alonso team. After a free kick that Alejandro Grimaldo circular from the right side into the penalty area, attacker Patrik Schick climbed up and pressed the ball with his forehead with his forehead almost undisturbed to 1-0 (32nd) and his 18th season goal over the goal line.
It was a setback that initially left traces at St. Pauli. But the team made a lot of trouble preventing other dangerous situations until half -time.
Boukhalfa redeems St. Pauli
After the break, the hosts took a few minutes to find their courage. But then they put the Leverkusen defensive under pressure and repeatedly approached the opposing goal. But the workself always had a head, leg or foot in front of the ball and could prevent a goal.
The Paulians were unlucky 15 minutes before the end when a deflected ball slipped to Morgan Guilavogui, but the ball first jumped by his hand. Instead of the Hamburg goal, there was free kick for the guests.
Three minutes later it was time: Carlo Boukhalfa poked the ball from the shortest distance from the deserved 1: 1 (78th) over the goal line after goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky was only inadequate after a standard situation from an acute angle.
St. Pauli in Bremen, Leverkusen against Augsburg
St. Pauli has an away game in Bremen in front of the chest (27.04., 5.30 p.m.). The day before, Leverkusen plays against FC Augsburg (3:30 p.m.).