St. Pauli and HSV blundered on Saturday and lost ground in the fight for the Bundesliga. Co-favorite Werder Bremen was challenged on Sunday – and also weakened.
SV Werder Bremen failed to exploit the mistakes of the competition. The Green-Whites only played 1-1 against relegation candidate Sandhausen in their home Weser Stadium. The point was enough to lead the table, but Werder could not make up much ground on HSV (loss against Paderborn), St. Pauli (loss in Rostock). At the same time, competitor Nuremberg even lost in Heidenheim. Düsseldorf gave Karlsruhe a 2-0 lead.
Werder Bremen vs SV Sandhausen
Back at the top, but not completely satisfied: Coach Ole Werner’s team had to settle for a 1-1 (0-0) win against SV Sandhausen, who were threatened with relegation, despite their superiority.
Werder ran, but Pascal Testroet gave the visitors the lead with their first shot on goal (64′). Marvin Ducksch provided the quick answer with a direct acceptance (73rd), it was not enough for more in front of 36,000 spectators in the Weser Stadium.
The hosts pushed Sandhausen into their own half from the start, but without constantly threatening to score. Niclas Füllkrug (28th) from close range and Felix Agu with a header (45th + 1) had the best chances in the first round, but SVS keeper Patrick Drewes parried.
Marvin Ducksch (right) in a duel against Chima Okoroji. (Source: Team 2/imago images)
In the second half, too, there was a long lack of creativity to overturn the tightly staggered guest defense. With the two goals, the game really picked up speed again.
Karlsruher SC – Fortuna Dusseldorf
Despite initially having a great advantage and a secure 2-0 lead, Fortuna Düsseldorf had to be satisfied with a point at Karlsruher SC. With the 2: 2 (2: 0) the team of Daniel Thioune remained unbeaten in the seventh game under the new coach and increased the lead over the relegation zone to five points six games before the end of the season.
Daniel Ginczek (31st minute) and Rouwen Hennings (38th) gave the Rhinelanders the lead in front of 17,907 spectators. KSC, weak before the break, equalized after an increase in performance in the second half with a penalty kick from Marvin Wanitzek (66th) and striker Philipp Hofmann’s 16th goal of the season (83rd).
1. FC Heidenheim – 1. FC Nuremberg
1. FC Nürnberg suffered a severe setback in the promotion race. In the chasing duel at 1. FC Heidenheim, the “club” lost 1:3 (0:2), which brought FCH with 45 points up to one point to the Franconians, who occupy fifth place.
Tim Kleindienst (3rd) and Maurice Malone (36th) set the course for the hosts to win early on in front of 10,673 fans. Kleindienst (84th) made it 3-0 again with goal number nine of the season, Manuel Schäffler (88th) made the final score.