Berlin (dpa) – FC Schalke 04 has regained the top of the table in the 2nd Bundesliga and is on the way up.
The Royal Blues came to a hard-fought 2-1 (0-0) at SV Sandhausen on the third-to-last matchday and overtook SV Werder Bremen (57) with 59 points, who, despite a 2-0 lead against Holstein Kiel, were still 2-3 (2:1) lost.
Werder can even slip to third place on Saturday if SV Darmstadt 98 (54) win their home game against Erzgebirge Aue on Saturday. FC St. Pauli (54) is in fourth place after the unfortunate 1-1 (0-0) in the chasing duel with 1. FC Nuremberg (51). Hamburger SV (51) would also still have chances of promotion if they were to win at bottom club FC Ingolstadt, who have already been relegated.
Dusseldorf makes relegation perfect
In the relegation battle, Fortuna Düsseldorf made the league perfect with a 3-1 (2-0) win at 1. FC Heidenheim. Hannover 96 should also be saved after the 2-0 (1-0) against Karlsruher SC.
In Sandhausen, striker Simon Terodde (71st and 90th + 1) once again saved Schalke with a brace, who were struggling. In the meantime, ex-Hamburg player Dennis Diekmeier had scored to equalize (83′). The points were particularly important because the rest of the program is difficult with games against St. Pauli and Nuremberg. Despite the defeat, Sandhausen should be part of the second division next year after a strong second half of the season, so the expiring contract with coach Alois Schwartz was extended until 2024.
“Pure disappointment” in Bremen
Two own goals by Niclas Füllkrug (45′ + 2′) and Anthony Jung (71′) and a goal by Julian Korb (85′) shocked SV Werder. Everything went according to plan after the goalscoring duo of Füllkrug (2nd) and Marvin Ducksch (23rd) ensured a quick 2-0 lead. For Füllkrug it was the 17th and for Ducksch even the 20th goal of the season.
“It’s pure disappointment. We play at home in front of such a crowd. We start the game well, everything works for us and we hand the thing over. Of course it’s your own fault,” Bremen’s youngsters quarreled with Sky TV and Marco Friedl added: “We play really bad football for 70 minutes. We allowed way too much. If we play like that, we won’t get promoted.”
St. Pauli was again caught off guard in the closing stages by Taylan Duman (90’+2′) after Daniel-Kofi Kyereh had scored a penalty kick (74′).
Düsseldorf continued its winning streak under new coach Daniel Thioune with goals from Jakub Piotrowski (20′), Felix Klaus (33′) and Christoph Klarer (56′). Since the signing of the ex-HSV coach in February, there have been five wins and six draws in eleven games. Heidenheim only came to the interim goal through Maurice Malone (47th).
Hannover was able to celebrate a win thanks to Hendrik Weydandt (25′) and Maximilian Beier (90′ + 3′). With a nine-point lead over Dynamo Dresden, the Lower Saxony can continue to plan for the new season. Coach Stefan Leitl from Bundesliga bottom SpVgg Greuther Fürth should lead the 96ers up again next year.
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