By Rich
The final 3 matchday of this season’s 1. Bundesliga began on Friday with a 2:1 win for hosts VfB Stuttgart over visitors FC Augsburg. The hosts took the lead early in the match when Philipp Förster’s right foot guided the ball into the goal in the 11th minute, and the visitors finally succeeded in evening the score in the 59th minute when Florian Niederlechner flicked the ball into the net, scoring his first goal since February. The hosts, though, retook the lead in the 74th minute with Sasa Kalajdzic headed the ball in from just a few meters out. The win will likely leave the newly-promoted club in the middle of the table at the end of the season, to begin a second season in the top flight at the end of the summer. Augsburg have now lost 5 consecutive away matches, tying a club record, and are still perilously close to the relegation zone with just 2 matchdays remaining. The contest to avoid relegation continues on Saturday Bremen host Leverkusen. Bremen are now on a streak of 7 defeats, and striker Josh Sargent has gone 5 games without a goal. To make matters worse, center-back Omer Toprak suffered an injury in training and will miss Saturday’s match. As much as Bremen need a win to avoid the relegation zone, Leverkusen are also in the hunt for a win to remain in contention for European competition. The Werkself have picked up 3 wins, 1 draw, and just 1 defeat in their last 5 matches under new coach Hannes Wolf. Competition at the other end of the table ahead of Leverkusen remains key for several clubs vying for bragging rights, even if Bayern clinches the title when they host Gladbach later Saturday. Fifth-place Dortmund will host second-place Leipzig early on Saturday, while third-place Wolfsburg host eighth-place Union Berlin. Union’s European hopes are still alive, with just 4 points separating them from Leverkusen, although the club will have to face both Leverkusen and Leipzig in the final 2 matchdays. A Wolfsburg win over Union could help secure the former’s return to the UEFA Champions League next season, and Wolfsburg striker Wout Weghorst would no doubt like to add to his impressive goal tally this season. Looking ahead to Sunday, Köln desperately need a win over visitors Freiburg, and back-to-back wins over both Leipzig and Augsburg have kept their hopes alive. A real showdown will occur later on Sunday when Hertha host Bielefeld. The teams are even on points and fighting for their survival. Hertha are unbeaten in their last 12 meetings with Bielefeld while playing at home: the last Bielefeld coach to win a Bundesliga match at Hertha, Otto Rehhagel, did so back in October 1978.
The final 3 matchday of this season’s 1. Bundesliga began on Friday with a 2:1 win for hosts VfB Stuttgart over visitors FC Augsburg. The hosts took the lead early in the match when Philipp Förster’s right foot guided the ball into the goal in the 11th minute, and the visitors finally succeeded in evening the score in the 59th minute when Florian Niederlechner flicked the ball into the net, scoring his first goal since February. The hosts, though, retook the lead in the 74th minute with Sasa Kalajdzic headed the ball in from just a few meters out. The win will likely leave the newly-promoted club in the middle of the table at the end of the season, to begin a second season in the top flight at the end of the summer. Augsburg have now lost 5 consecutive away matches, tying a club record, and are still perilously close to the relegation zone with just 2 matchdays remaining. The contest to avoid relegation continues on Saturday Bremen host Leverkusen. Bremen are now on a streak of 7 defeats, and striker Josh Sargent has gone 5 games without a goal. To make matters worse, center-back Omer Toprak suffered an injury in training and will miss Saturday’s match. As much as Bremen need a win to avoid the relegation zone, Leverkusen are also in the hunt for a win to remain in contention for European competition. The Werkself have picked up 3 wins, 1 draw, and just 1 defeat in their last 5 matches under new coach Hannes Wolf. Competition at the other end of the table ahead of Leverkusen remains key for several clubs vying for bragging rights, even if Bayern clinches the title when they host Gladbach later Saturday. Fifth-place Dortmund will host second-place Leipzig early on Saturday, while third-place Wolfsburg host eighth-place Union Berlin. Union’s European hopes are still alive, with just 4 points separating them from Leverkusen, although the club will have to face both Leverkusen and Leipzig in the final 2 matchdays. A Wolfsburg win over Union could help secure the former’s return to the UEFA Champions League next season, and Wolfsburg striker Wout Weghorst would no doubt like to add to his impressive goal tally this season. Looking ahead to Sunday, Köln desperately need a win over visitors Freiburg, and back-to-back wins over both Leipzig and Augsburg have kept their hopes alive. A real showdown will occur later on Sunday when Hertha host Bielefeld. The teams are even on points and fighting for their survival. Hertha are unbeaten in their last 12 meetings with Bielefeld while playing at home: the last Bielefeld coach to win a Bundesliga match at Hertha, Otto Rehhagel, did so back in October 1978.
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