Bundesliga Round 31 - This Weekend
The relegation battle got a lot tighter after Bremen lose and Augsburg and Hoffenheim win.
Leverkusen frustrate Werder Bremen
The good news for Bremen was that their porous defense looked much better in Leverkusen than it has in recent weeks. The bad news was that their attack was completely toothless, meaning a lone goal was sufficient for a 1-0 Leverkusen victory. Bremen are now only two points clear of the drop zone.
Augsburg get clutch victory over Stuttgart
The signs weren't looking good for Augsburg ahead of Saturday. They'd never beaten Stuttgart in the top flight. But there's a first time for everything, as Augsburg ran out clear 3-0 winners. Sascha Mölders scored the first goal, as the hosts kept their hopes of survival in the first division alive.
Hoffenheim book a much-needed win over Nuremberg
It was do-or-die time for second-to-last Hoffenheim at home against Nuremberg since a loss would have all but doomed their chances of escaping relegation. And the hosts came out flying, scoring a pair of goals in the first 20 minutes. That was enough to secure a very valuable 2-1 victory.
Greuther Fürth go down after loss to Hanover
Fürth's 3-2 loss on Friday proved the straw that broke the camel's back. The Franconians are going back down to the second division after only a single season in the top flight. Fürth were the better team in this match, but as so often has been the case this season, lady luck was not on their side.
Bayern B-team beats Freiburg
Mindful of their Champions League clash against Barcelona on Wednesday, Bayern fielded a starting eleven of reserves at home against Freiburg. The understudies were good enough to secure a 1-0 win thanks to a goal by Emre Can. Mario Gomez made an appearance as a late substitute.
Dortmund understudies dispatch Düsseldorf
In Saturday's late match in Düsseldorf, Dortmund also chose to rest the majority of their regular starters. No matter. Dortmund - which conquered Real Madrid during the week - eased past their hosts 2-1. The result leaves Düsseldorf in the thick of battle against the drop.
Wolfsburg sprint past Gladbach
Wolfsburg looked relaxed now that their relegation worries are a thing of the past. At home against Mönchengladbach, the Wolves showed what could have been this season, if not for their poor start. Diego scored the final goal for the hosts, who emerged as 3-1 victors.
Frankfurt split the points with Mainz
The will was there in this clash between local rivals in western Germany, but just wanting to score isn't enough. You still have to put the ball in the net. And that's something neither Frankfurt nor their hosts Mainz were able to do in Sunday's early match.
Schalke and Huntelaar hammer Hamburg
Schalke had to do without the services of striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (L) for weeks, but in Sunday's late match he came back with a vengeance. The Dutchman bagged a hat trick, as the Royal Blues got an easy 4-1 win over Hamburg. The result solidified Schalke's hold on fourth place and the Bundesliga's final Champions League spot.