“We defended badly. The way you score goals, the crosses allow – that’s not on the level, that’s unacceptable.” Freiburg coach Christian Streich was furious after his sports club’s bitter 4-1 home defeat against 1. FC Union Berlin – because of his team’s poor defensive performance, but also because the referee did not recognize Freiburg’s supposed 1-1 lead because of a handball. “I don’t understand it,” complained Streich. Now the Freiburgers are missing important points that would have been needed to fulfill their dream of participating in the Champions League. Points that could have kept pursuers RB Leipzig in check. Instead, they slipped from fourth place to fifth place in the table because Leipzig did not show any weakness against FC Augsburg and won 4-0.
The Sportclub (55 points) play in Leverkusen on the last day of the game and need a win to catch Leipzig (57). However, because of the much better goal difference compared to Freiburg at Arminia Bielefeld, RB would already be enough to reach the premier class.
Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League
There was joy at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, who benefited from the Freiburg defeat. The Werkself struggled a bit in the away game in Hoffenheim, but ultimately beat TSG 4-2. This allows Bayer to plan for the Champions League. Before the direct duel with Freiburg next Saturday, Bayer has a six-point lead and will end the season in third place.
Patrik Schick: Mainly responsible for Leverkusen setting a new season goal record with 78 goals
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Goal scorer Patrik Schick contributed his 23rd and 24th goals of the season to the success in addition to an assist and almost apologized for the shaky start of the game: “We’re at the end of the season and didn’t have that much strength anymore,” said the Czech. “There is no reason to complain.”
Bayern has the shell
At the end of a sporting mixed week, FC Bayern was allowed to accept the championship trophy for the tenth time in a row, but this time for the first time from the hands of the new DFL boss Donata Hopfen. Previously, the Munich team, who had had to listen to a lot of criticism after the 1: 3 defeat in Mainz last weekend – also because they set off on a short trip to Ibiza in the middle of the current season, played 2: 2 against VfB Stuttgart. An overall unsatisfactory result for Bayern, which was nevertheless celebrated by 75,000 fans. “Even if there are many who know the ceremony, it’s always nice,” said national player Thomas Müller at DAZN and admitted: “We wanted to win, we were up for it, but we also made mistakes.”
German champion for the tenth time in a row, for the eleventh time overall: Bayern’s Thomas Müller (l.)
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Borussia Dortmund can no longer be pushed out of second place. BVB won 3-1 at relegated Greuther Fürth and finished second behind series champions FC Bayern for the sixth time in the past ten years.
In a midfield duel, Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Mönchengladbach drew 1-1. Eintracht fell behind three days after their acclaimed Europa League final, but fought back and were rewarded with a point.
Mixed feelings in Cologne
There were curious scenes after the final whistle in Cologne: while the Cologne players sank onto the pitch disappointed after the 0-1 defeat against VfL Wolfsburg, the FC fans stormed the field euphorically and celebrated qualifying for the European Cup – it has to happen just clarify whether it will be the Europa League or the UEFA Conference League. Before the game, there was even hope on the Cologne side that a win against the “Wolves” might still be able to play for a starting place in the Champions League until the end.
First place despite defeat: After 2017/2018, 1. FC Köln will play in the European Cup again next season
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But although Cologne were superior from the start, Wolfsburg won in the end. The goal scorer for Wolfsburg was Yannick Gerhardt, a player who came from the FC youth and became a professional there. The fans didn’t care, but coach Steffen Baumgart slowed down: “The season isn’t over yet,” he said: “We can do a polonaise through the city. But we can still get sixth place next week. That people celebrate, is completely fine. Also that they are on the pitch. But everyone should understand that if we lose 1-0, we don’t go out in euphoria.”
Bielefeld before descent, Hertha has to tremble
Arminia Bielefeld lost 2-1 at VfL Bochum through an unfortunate late own goal. Arminen still have 27 points in 17th, three points behind VfB Stuttgart, who played bravely to secure a draw at FC Bayern. Since Bielefeld’s goal difference is seven goals worse than VfB’s, Arminia is in danger of being relegated from the Bundesliga for the eighth time in their club’s history. After the defeat in Bochum, rescue is only possible via relegation anyway. “The Bundesliga table doesn’t lie so close to the end of the season,” said Bielefeld coach Marco Kostmann after the game in Bochum, sounding a little hopeless. “That’s how the game was today: no penetration power forward.”
Hertha BSC is also on the spot in the relegation battle. The Berliners once again missed making everything clear with a win and securing relegation. After the 2-1 defeat against FSV Mainz 05, they are only three points ahead of VfB Stuttgart, but the goal difference is significantly worse. If VfB wins its last game next weekend against 1. FC Köln and Hertha loses in Dortmund at the same time, then the Berliners will have to go into relegation.
The scene of the game even before kick-off: Hertha’s players in front of the curve
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Despite the ongoing threatening situation in the table, the Hertha players managed to reconcile with their fans before the game against Mainz. After the derby defeat against Union a few weeks ago, there was harsh criticism from the supporters and even calls for the Hertha professionals to take off their jerseys because they were not worthy of wearing them. Most recently, the players refused to go to the fans after the games. Now they lined up in front of the curve before kick-off and linked arms to loud cheers from their supporters. “We sent a sign that it only works together. It was great support, so we can close the issue,” said striker Davie Selke.
The 33rd Bundesliga matchday at a glance:
FC Bayern Munich – VfB Stuttgart 2: 2 (1: 1)
Tore: 0: 1 Tiago Tomas (8th), 1: 1 Mavropanos (35th), 2: 1 Müller (44th), 2: 2 Kalajdzic (52nd)
Red card: Coman (Bayern, 85./Tätlichkeit)
SpVgg Greuther Furth – Borussia Dortmund 1: 3 (0: 1)
Tore: 0: 1 Brandt (26.), 1: 1 Ngankam (70.), 1: 2 Brandt (72.), 1: 3 Passlack (77.)
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim – Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2:4 (2:1)
Tore: 1-0 Rutter (22′), 1-1 Schick (34′), 2-1 Baumgartner (36′), 2-2 Diaby (73′), 2-3 Schick (76′), 2-4 Alario ( 90.+1)
RB Leipzig – FC Augsburg 4:0 (1:0)
Tore: 1:0 Silva (40.), 1:1 Nkunku (48.), 3:0 Nkunku (57.), 4:0 Forsberg (65./Foulelfmeter)
SC Freiburg – 1. FC Union Berlin 1:4 (0:3)
Tore: 0: 1 Prömel (11th), 0: 2 Trimmel (30th), 0: 3 Becker (41st), 1: 3 Höler (59th), 1: 4 Schäfer (90th)
1. FC Cologne – VfL Wolfsburg 0: 1 (0: 1)
Tore: 0:1 Gerhardt (43.)
Eintracht Frankfurt – Borussia Monchengladbach 1: 1 (0: 1)
Tore: 0:1 Please (4.), 1:1 Patience (66.)
Hertha BSC – FSV Mainz 05 1: 2 (1: 1)
Tore: 0: 1 Widmer (25th), 1: 1 Selke (45th + 5 / penalty), 1: 2 Bell (81st)
VfL Bochum – Arminia Bielefeld 2: 1 (1: 1)
Tore: 1: 0 Polter (22.), 1: 1 Nilsson (35.), 2: 1 Bello (89./Eigentor)
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