Substitute Kevin Prince Boateng prevented FC Schalke 04 and their manager Roberto Di Matteo from suffering yet another setback in their bid to secure European football next season. The midfielder bagged an 89th-minute winner to beat bottom side VfB Stuttgart 3-2, handing Schalke their first victory in seven games. Former Schalke manager and current Stuttgart boss Huub Stevens saw his side take a 2-1 lead through goals from Martin Harnik and Filip Kostic. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar ended a 1,196 minute long goal drought by scoring the opener in the first half and added a second goal to his tally with the equaliser in the 78th minute.
Paderborn secure crucial victory in Freiburg
SC Paderborn picked up a crucial victory in Freiburg as they came from behind to win 2-1 and no longer find themselves in the relegation zone. Nils Petersen fired Freiburg into the lead with his seventh goal since the winter break, but Paderborn turned the game around thanks to a brace from Lukas Rupp.
Hannover secured an important point in their battle against relegation, recovering from a two goal deficit against Champions League candidates VfL Wolfsburg to salvage a 2-2 draw in the Lower-Saxony derby. The Wolves fully deserved their two goal lead at half time thanks to goals from Bas Dost and Ivan Perisic. Hannover emerged a different side after half time though, and quickly levelled the score thanks to goals from Jimmy Briand and an impressive overhead kick from Salif Sané. Hannover still drop into 16th place after Paderborn's victory in Freiburg. Wolfsburg remain in second place with a five point cushion over Gladbach, who face Hertha in Berlin tomorrow (17:30 CEST).
Dortmund held to draw by Hoffenheim
Borussia Dortmund's cup heroes suffered a setback in their attempt to close the gap on the Europa League qualifying places as they were only able to record a 1-1 draw in Hoffenheim. Hoffenheim took the lead through Germany under-21 international Kevin Volland but World Champion Mats Hummels put Dortmund back on level terms just a few minutes later. Dortmund, who only need to finish in 7th place to qualify for the Europa League thanks to reaching the DFB Cup final, are currently in 9th place with 40 points to their name, trailing Hoffenheim by just one point.
Augsburg also missed out on the opportunity to improve their position in the battle for Europe, recording a goalless draw against 1. FC Köln. Augsburg are still in sixth place, but their lead ahead of Werder in seventh has been reduced to just one point. Köln, on the other hand, are now unbeaten in their last four league games, but could still mathematically become involved in the relegation battle.
Selke scores in Werder victory
SV Werder Bremen didn’t gift former coach Thomas Schaaf anything on his first return to the Weser Stadion since his lengthy spell with SVW. The hosts recorded a 1-0 victory thanks to a second-half goal from U19 European Champion Davie Selke and with this victory managed to close in on the direct qualification places for the Europa League.
Substitute Kevin Prince Boateng prevented FC Schalke 04 and their manager Roberto Di Matteo from suffering yet another setback in their bid to secure European football next season. The midfielder bagged an 89th-minute winner to beat bottom side VfB Stuttgart 3-2, handing Schalke their first victory in seven games. Former Schalke manager and current Stuttgart boss Huub Stevens saw his side take a 2-1 lead through goals from Martin Harnik and Filip Kostic. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar ended a 1,196 minute long goal drought by scoring the opener in the first half and added a second goal to his tally with the equaliser in the 78th minute.
Paderborn secure crucial victory in Freiburg
SC Paderborn picked up a crucial victory in Freiburg as they came from behind to win 2-1 and no longer find themselves in the relegation zone. Nils Petersen fired Freiburg into the lead with his seventh goal since the winter break, but Paderborn turned the game around thanks to a brace from Lukas Rupp.
Hannover secured an important point in their battle against relegation, recovering from a two goal deficit against Champions League candidates VfL Wolfsburg to salvage a 2-2 draw in the Lower-Saxony derby. The Wolves fully deserved their two goal lead at half time thanks to goals from Bas Dost and Ivan Perisic. Hannover emerged a different side after half time though, and quickly levelled the score thanks to goals from Jimmy Briand and an impressive overhead kick from Salif Sané. Hannover still drop into 16th place after Paderborn's victory in Freiburg. Wolfsburg remain in second place with a five point cushion over Gladbach, who face Hertha in Berlin tomorrow (17:30 CEST).
Dortmund held to draw by Hoffenheim
Borussia Dortmund's cup heroes suffered a setback in their attempt to close the gap on the Europa League qualifying places as they were only able to record a 1-1 draw in Hoffenheim. Hoffenheim took the lead through Germany under-21 international Kevin Volland but World Champion Mats Hummels put Dortmund back on level terms just a few minutes later. Dortmund, who only need to finish in 7th place to qualify for the Europa League thanks to reaching the DFB Cup final, are currently in 9th place with 40 points to their name, trailing Hoffenheim by just one point.
Augsburg also missed out on the opportunity to improve their position in the battle for Europe, recording a goalless draw against 1. FC Köln. Augsburg are still in sixth place, but their lead ahead of Werder in seventh has been reduced to just one point. Köln, on the other hand, are now unbeaten in their last four league games, but could still mathematically become involved in the relegation battle.
Selke scores in Werder victory
SV Werder Bremen didn’t gift former coach Thomas Schaaf anything on his first return to the Weser Stadion since his lengthy spell with SVW. The hosts recorded a 1-0 victory thanks to a second-half goal from U19 European Champion Davie Selke and with this victory managed to close in on the direct qualification places for the Europa League.
