Berlin (AP) – Bayer Leverkusen remains the third force in German football behind the two top teams FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
On Saturday, the works club cleared the bottom line, SpVgg Greuther Fürth, who had not yet won, thanks to a pack of four from Patrik Schick with 7: 1 (3: 1). TSG 1899 Hoffenheim also took a place in the Champions League with a 3-2 (2-1) win against Eintracht Frankfurt.
On a 14th matchday with significant spectator restrictions, FSV Mainz 05 returned to success after three games without a win. Against VfL Wolfsburg there was a 3-0 (2-0). Mainz is in the upper half of the table with 21 points. There is also 1. FC Cologne, which had to be content with a 1-1 (1-0) at Arminia Bielefeld. Promoted VfL Bochum landed their third win from the last four games at 3: 2 (3: 0) at FC Augsburg.
In the five games, the maximum audience limit of 15,000 fans decided by the federal and state governments due to the increasing corona incidence came into effect. In Augsburg no spectators were even allowed, in Hoffenheim the stadium was almost empty.
Leverkusen with a runaway victory
In Leverkusen, Amine Adli (12th), Edmond Tapsoba (17th), Piero Hincapie (45th) and four times Schick (49th / 69th / 74th / 76th) beat Fürth. For the Franks only ex-HSV professional Jeremy Dudziak (33.) could shorten the short term. This means that Fürth is only one point behind in the last place in the table and has already conceded 46 goals.
Hoffenheim’s third win in a row was made perfect by Dennis Geiger (24th), Georginio Rutter (30th) and Diadie Sammassekou (59th). Rafael Borré (15th) and Goncalo Paciencia (72nd) scored for Frankfurt, who had recently started a race to catch up with three wins.
With the fastest 2-0 lead in their Bundesliga history, Mainz laid the foundation for victory. Jonathan Burkardt (2nd minute) and Anton Stach (4th) scored the goals, which was also the fastest 2-0 since RB Leipzig 2019. The third goal came from an own goal by Maxence Lacroix (90th).
Cologne scores in Bielefeld
Cologne is meanwhile under coach Steffen Baumgart on the best way to complete a season without relegation worries. After the goal from Salih Özcan (17th) it was even possible to win, but Bryan Lasme equalized for Bielefeld (59th).
Two weeks ago in Augsburg there was a sensational 2-1 win against Bayern in front of a full house. This time there was a bankruptcy against promoted Bochum for the FCA without fans. Sebastian Polter (23/45) and Gerrit Holtmann (40) made things clear for VfL before the break. Michael Gregoritsch (57th) and Daniel Caligiuri with a penalty kick (86th) caused tension again, but the turnaround was no longer successful.
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