Uberprufung der Bundesliga: Hamburg deeper in trouble, Bayern 20 points clear, Cologne fate not far off confirmation

With only 9 games left in the Bundesliga after this week results on this weekend would go some way to sealing fates and making destinies clearer. Bayern Munich went to Freiburg on Sunday looking to extend the gap between themselves and whoever would finish the weekend in second place. Hamburg and Mainz probably played the most important game of the weekend in a crucial relegation 6-pointer. Wolfsburg and Werder Bremen were also looking to put some distance between themselves and drop zone in their games.

Borussia Moenchengladbach 2-2 Werder Bremen

Both these sides were on the right end of 1-0 results last week, Gladbach away at Hannover and Bremen at home to Hamburg. They met on Friday night and it was the home side who raced into a 1-0 lead through Denis Zakaria within just 5 minutes. Dieter Hecking’s side doubled their lead on 33 minutes Thorgan Hazard scored. Bremen carried out a stunning second-half fightback though which began on 59 minutes when Thomas Delaney pulled one back. Aron Johansson completed the comeback on 78 minutes to salvage a point for relegation threatened Bremen.

Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 Hannover

Each of these sides suffered 1-0 defeats last weekend. Frankfurt went down at Stuttgart and Hannover were defeated by Gladbach at home. This game would also only need one goal to settle it, Danny da Costa being the hero scoring the winner for the home side on 39 minutes in a result which keeps Frankfurt in contention for a Champions League place.

Augsburg 0-2 Hoffenheim

Both of these teams were only able to a point from their respective games last week. Augsburg were lucky to snatch theirs from a 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund, while Hoffenheim also drew 1-1 at home to Freiburg. This game would pan out much better for Julian Nagelsmann and his side though. They broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark when Andrej Kramaric put them ahead. Serge Gnabry doubled their lead on 50 minutes, completing the scoring in the process and keeping Hoffenheim’s push for European football on track.

Hamburg 0-0 Mainz

Bernd Hollerbach has so far failed to spark the desired revival of Hamburg since his arrival and this was epitomised in their lack-lustre 1-0 defeat at relegation rivals Werder Bremen last Saturday. Mainz are also in the mire though their 1-1 draw with Wolfsburg last Friday night pulled them further away from trouble. This was proving to be a relegation 6-pointer but neither side were able to take the onus and break the deadlock. It’s a result which now leaves Hamburg 7 points off their opponents in the relegation play-off place and puts their unblemished top-flight record under serious threat.

Schalke 1-0 Hertha Berlin

Schalke seemed to have straightened out their shaky post-Christmas form and were definitely back on track against top-four rivals Bayer Leverkusen during their 2-0 win at the BayArena last weekend. Hertha Berlin also performed above expectation, surprisingly taking a point from their encounter with Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. It would take just one goal to win this game for Domenico Tedesco’s side though and it was on-loan Marko Pjaca who would get it on 37 minutes, sending Schalke second in the process.

Wolfsburg 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen

Wolfsburg downward spiral continued last week when they were only able to take a point from relegation rivals Mainz, while Bayer Leverkusen suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to Schalke. Heiko Herrlich’s side would get back on track here though and it began with Lucas Alario’s 31st-minute penalty. Julian Brandt doubled Leverkusen’s lead on 78 minutes, but Admir Mehmedi would ensure it would be a nervy finish for the away side by pulling one back a minute later. Wolfsburg wouldn’t get their equaliser but they would get some late drama when William was sent off deep into stoppage time to deepen their woes.

Red Bull Leipzig 1-1 Borussia Dortmund

Red Bull Leipzig were surprisingly beaten at home by bottom side Cologne last week, while the fans that did attend Borussia Dortmund’s home game instead of protesting that it was being played on a Monday night saw their side throw away a 1-0 lead to draw with Augsburg. Dortmund would fall behind in this one though when Jean-Kevin Augustin put Ralph Hassenhutl’s side ahead on 29 minutes. The lead wouldn’t last long though and Marco Reus equalised just 9 minutes later.

Cologne 2-3 VfB Stuttgart

Cologne came away from a very tough encounter with Red Bull Leipzig last week with a shock 3 points following a 2-1 win. VfB Stuttgart dealt Eintracht Frankfurt’s Champions League hopes a blow after beating them 1-0 at home. Cologne would take the lead here when Claudio Pizarro scored in the 7th minute. It was all downhill from there though. Mario Gomez equalised on 45 minutes and gave Stuttgart the lead 2 minutes into stoppage time. Andreas Beck made it 3-1 on 57 minutes to put Cologne in deep trouble. Milos Jojic gave them hope on 86 minutes but Stefan Ruthenbeck’s side couldn’t capitalise and Cologne are now games away from relegation.

Freiburg 0-4 Bayern Munich

Freiburg’s 1-1 draw at home to Hoffenheim last week saw them gain another crucial point in their struggle to keep relegation at arm’s length, while Bayern Munich will have been disappointed not to have scored during their 0-0 draw at home with Hertha Berlin. They would set the record straight in devastating fashion in the Black Forest though. Alexander Schwolow inadvertently opened the scoring for Bayern by putting through his own net on 25 minutes and Corentin Tolisso made it 2-0 just 23 minutes later. Jupp Heynkes’ side wouldn’t score again until the second half when Sandro Wagner scored on 57 minutes. Thomas Muller scored on 68 minutes to complete the rout and send Bayern 20 points clear at the summit of the Bundesliga.

Game Week 26 Fixtures

Friday 9th March

Mainz vs. Schalke (19.30)

Saturday 10th March

Bayern Munich vs. Hamburg (14.30)

Hannover vs. Augsburg

Hertha Berlin vs. Freiburg

Hoffenheim vs. Wolfsburg

Bayer Leverkusen vs. Borussia Moenchengladbach (17.30)

Sunday 11th March

VfB Stuttgart vs. Red Bull Leipzig (14.30)

Borussia Dortmund vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (17.00)

Monday 12th March

Werder Bremen vs. Cologne (19.30).