2. Bundesliga on Sunday
FC Schalke 04 has underpinned its promotion ambitions and clearly won against competitor Darmstadt 98. Werder Bremen, on the other hand, lost points in a direct duel with 1. FC Nürnberg.
Schalke 04 took a big step towards promotion on Sunday. The Royal Blues celebrated a 5-2 away win at Darmstadt 98 and thus consolidated their lead in the table. In the event of a defeat, the lilies would have overtaken S04, but they remain in fourth place. It was Schalke’s fifth win in five games under coach Mike Büskens.
Simon Terodde (14th and 29th) with a double and Marius Bülter with a three-pack (42nd, 48th and 62nd) decided the game in favor of the guests. The two goals from striker Phillip Tietz (11th and 34th) remained a side note.
Werder and Nuremberg drop points
With Werder Bremen and 1. FC Nürnberg, two competitors also dropped points in the fight for promotion in the parallel game. The game in the Weser Stadium ended 1:1. Werder’s Mitchell Weiser (64th) equalized in the second round, Nikola Dovedan (24th) had previously given the “Club” the lead with a penalty. For Bremen it was the third game in a row without a win.
Werder equalized: Mitchell Weiser (centre) scored the 1-1 draw against Nuremberg. (Source: Frank Molter/dpa)
In the other second division games on Sunday, Rostock and Regensburg also drew 1:1. Four games before the end of the season, the Hanseatic League have a nine-point lead over relegation rank 16, which is currently held by Dynamo Dresden.
John Verhoek (44th minute) scored the goal for coach Jens Härtel’s team, who ended the game decimated after Danylo Sikan was red carded in injury time after an assault. Nicklas Shipnoski (59th) scored for the guests.
Hardly any hope left for Ingolstadt
Meanwhile, FC Ingolstadt lost 1-0 to Paderborn. A converted penalty kick from Paderborn’s Florent Muslija (70th) led to the final score. With four games left, Ingolstadt is now ten points behind the relegation place.
In addition, 1. FC Heidenheim suffered a 2-0 home defeat against Aue. The Saxons deservedly won with a brace from offensive man Ben Zolinski (54th and 79th minute) – and reduced the gap to relegation rank 16 to seven points. With four games to go, Heidenheim is eight points behind third and thus has little chance of promotion.
HSV had one on Saturday evening important 3-0 win against a decimated Karlsruhe team – and can continue to dream of promotion after the mistakes of the competitors.