“The performance should make us think!” Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich was understandably not happy after his team’s disappointing 3-1 draw at FSV Mainz 05. He hadn’t managed to turn things around either. There was no explanation for this. “Naturally
we became German champions last week,” said Kimmich. “Nevertheless, that happened to us far too often this season.” Five Munich defeats in one season, that was seven years ago.
Nagelsmann and Magath argue
Coach Julian Nagelsmann, who only started with a B-Elf in Mainz – without Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller, among other things – was served accordingly: “If it seems as if we have to do some service and there is no passion, it is reached the point where we have to change something. That’s where we are right now,” said the 34-year-old and then had to listen to criticism from the competition – also because many of his players went on a short trip to Ibiza after the bankruptcy.
“I definitely wouldn’t allow something like that, it wouldn’t have crossed my mind,” Felix Magath, the Hertha BSC coach, told “BILD” on Sunday. “Once a championship celebration is understandable, but not for three weeks,” said Magath, who is hoping that Bayern will show a better performance against Hertha’s relegation rivals VfB Stuttgart next weekend. “That’s very clever of him. He won’t do it entirely unselfishly,” Nagelsmann replied and advised his colleague to watch the game: “Then he can call me. I’m not talking about Hertha’s performance now either.”
Leverkusen close to the Champions League
Bayer Leverkusen have their big goal for the season, the Champions League, very close in mind. Coach Gerardo Seoane’s team easily won 2-0 (1-0) against Eintracht Frankfurt and also benefited from the parallel blunder of fellow competitor RB Leipzig at Borussia Mönchengladbach. As a result, the Werkself are third and four points ahead of fifth with two games to go.
Paulinho (18′) gave the Werkself, who last played in the premier class in the 2019/20 season, the lead. Top scorer Patrik Schick (51st, according to video evidence) scored his 22nd goal of the season shortly after the restart – only Stefan Kießling (25 goals in 2012/13) scored more often in a Bayer dress in one season. Frankfurt remained harmless three days before the semi-final second leg in the Europa League against West Ham United.
Bielefeld and Stuttgart are still hoping
The Stuttgart team is still in the running for relegation because they managed to draw with a late goal against VfL Wolfsburg. With 29 points, they are four points behind the Berliners (33) on the relegation place two games before the end.
Arminia Bielefeld does not manage the hoped-for victory in the relegation battle against Hertha BSC
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Two points behind VfB, Arminia Bielefeld (27) still has chances to keep up the class – even if staying in the Bundesliga is only hanging by a thin thread. Arminen got a point in the “relegation final” against Magath’s Hertha – also with a late goal to make it 1-1. “If you look at the other results, it can still be valuable,” said Bielefeld coach Marco Kostmann and encouraged himself and his team. “We’re still in the game: Arminia Bielefeld is able to hold onto the Bundesliga with two games to go.”
Bielefeld has to play in Bochum and at home against Leipzig on the remaining two matchdays, VfB has an away game at FC Bayern and on the last matchday a home game against 1. FC Köln.
Close race for the European Cup places
The people of Cologne are almost certain to be in the European Cup next season. FC beat FC Augsburg 4-1 and is now sixth with 52 points. 1. FC Union Berlin (51), who only played 1-1 against relegated Greuther Fürth on Friday evening, slipped down to seventh place.
SC Freiburg has at least temporarily moved to a place in the Champions League. In a high-scoring duel, the cup finalists retained the upper hand 4:3 at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
Dortmund disappointed against “proud” Bochumers
The Dortmund players had to listen to shrill whistles from around 80,000 fans after their 3:4 home defeat against VfL Bochum. In the third game in front of a full house after the corona restrictions were lifted, it was BVB’s second home defeat.
80,000 disappointed BVB fans whistle – Dortmund’s players have to endure the protests
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“We are very disappointed,” admitted coach Marco Rose. “Actually, I had a good feeling today, but we didn’t score the fourth goal. When I look at the table and see 50 goals conceded, it’s clear what the core issue is.” Dortmund also failed to make the runners-up clear. Followers Bayer 04 Leverkusen, currently in third place eight points behind, play against Eintracht Frankfurt on Monday. Also in action on Monday is RB Leipzig, the second German semi-finalist in the Europa League alongside Frankfurt.
In contrast to the gloomy mood at BVB, Bochum were completely left out after the unexpected success. After winning the derby against the “big Dortmunders”, VfL will definitely be in the Bundesliga again next season. “It’s the crowning glory of the season when you make it clear that you stay up in the league with a win at BVB,” said VfL coach Thomas Reis. “We made the whole of Bochum proud.”
The 32nd Bundesliga matchday at a glance:
FSV Mainz 05 – FC Bayern Munich 3: 1 (2: 1)
Tore: 1:0 Burkardt (18.), 2:0 Niakhaté (27.), 2:1 Lewandowski (33.), 3:1 Barreiro (57.)
Borussia Dortmund – VfL Bochum 3: 4 (2: 2)
Tore: 0: 1 Polter (3rd), 0: 2 Holtmann (8th), 1: 2 Haaland (19th / penalty), 2: 2 Haaland (30th / penalty), 3: 2 Haaland (62nd), 3 : 3 Locadia (81st), 3: 3 Pantovic (86th / penalty)
VfB Stuttgart – VfL Wolfsburg 1: 1 (0: 1)
Tore: 0:1 Brooks (13.), 1:1 Führich (89.)
FC Augsburg – 1. FC Cologne 1: 4 (0: 2)
Tore: 0: 1 Thielmann (12th), 0: 2 Uth (15th), 0: 3 Modeste (63rd / penalty), 1: 3 Niederlechner (73rd), 1: 4 Modeste (77th)
Arminia Bielefeld – Hertha BSC 1: 1 (0: 0)
Tore: 0: 1 Tousart (55th), 1: 1 Nilsson (90th + 1)
1. FC Union Berlin – SpVgg Greuther Furth 1: 1 (0: 1)
Tore: 0:1 Hrgota (33.), 1:1 Michel (72.)
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim – SC Freiburg 3:4 (1:1)
Tore: 0: 1 Sallai (23rd), 1: 1 Kramaric (32nd), 1: 2 Stiller (49th), 2: 2 Günter (50th), 2: 3 Höler (70th), 2: 4 Jeong ( 73′), 3-4 Rudy (84′)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen – Eintracht Frankfurt 2: 0 (1: 0)
Tore: 1:0 Paulinho (18.), 2:0 Schick (52.)
Borussia Mönchengladbach – RB Leipzig 3: 1 (2: 1)
Tore: 1-0 Embolo (17′), 1-1 Nkunku (36′), 2-1 Hofmann (45′), 3-1 Hofmann (77′) Special incidents: Elvedi red card (64′; emergency brake)
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