Bundesliga: Hertha BSC descends, Schalke hopes

Hertha BSC – VfL Bochum 1: 1 (0: 0), Goals: 1: 0 Tousart (64th), 1: 1 Schlotterbeck (90th + 4th)

Win or fly – the starting position for Hertha was that simple. Without three points against VfL, Berlin’s relegation was sealed. The guests had the first good opportunity: Philipp Hofmann placed a header just wide of the goal after five minutes. Then Hertha worked on the opening goal – and with success, at least that’s what everyone thought. Dodi Lukebakio grabbed the ball just after the halfway line, charged at Bochum goalkeeper Manuel Riemann and sunk the ball effortlessly. Only: Before winning the ball, Berlin’s Stevan Jovetić pulled too hard on VfL defender Ivan Ordets – referee Felix Brych looked at the video images and took the goal back.

A decision that Hertha added. Bochum created several good chances to score, but was careless with the chances. Once Berlin’s goalkeeper Oliver Christensen made a strong save. The break went goalless – not enough for Hertha to prevent relegation. The second round started suitably hectic – it went back and forth. After a good hour, the redeeming goal for Hertha: Lucas Tousart headed resolutely to take the lead. It was Berlin’s first goal this season right after a corner – there are worse times. It took a brilliant effort from goalkeeper Christensen to avoid conceding the equalizer immediately. Afterwards, Hertha continued to push forward without consistently taking advantage of the chances.

Bochum’s Keven Schlotterbeck hit the post from a distance, Chidera Ejuke did the same on the other side. Everything pointed to a narrow victory for Hertha. But then Bochum’s Schlotterbeck destroyed the hope of salvation on the last matchday well into injury time. The defender rose into the air from a corner and headed in to level. The Berliners were no longer dangerous in front of goal and were relegated from the Bundesliga after eleven years.

Schalke 04 – Eintracht Frankfurt 2:2 (1:0), Goals: 1-0 Terodde (1st), 1-1 Kamada (21st), 1-2 Tuta (59th), 2-2 Polter (85th)

Compensation shortly before the end: Sebastian Polter (left, in blue) scores to make it 2-2 for Schalke.

(Photo: Horst Mauelshagen/Imago)

At Schalke, everyone who sticks with the royal blue asked themselves who should actually score goals against Frankfurt? Storm hope Marius Bülter picked up the most painful fifth yellow card of the season last week and was suspended during the high phase of the relegation battle. Simon Terodde stopped guessing after just a few seconds. He headed a free kick into the goal in the finest Bülter style.

The shouts of joy from Schalke supporters were soon replaced by shouts of outrage. Goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow had allowed a ball from Daichi Kamada to pass unlawfully. However, the mistake was not the only reason for the anger, but the decision of referee Daniel Schlager, who did not rate a duel between Christopher Lenz and Schalke Cedric Brunner in the run-up to the goal as a foul, even after VAR intervention.

As a result, Schalke showed a lot of fighting spirit, but little risk of scoring. The Frankfurters played more mature and scored through Tuta to make it 2-1. Schalke asked themselves again: Who is supposed to score the goals here? Schalke coach Thomas Reis responded with his substitutions: Substitute striker Sebastian Polter scored after a cross from Tobias Mohr, who was also substituted on. Schalke nurtured hope with the draw. Rescue is still possible on matchday 34.

TSG Hoffenheim – Union Berlin 4: 2 (2: 1), Goals: 1-0 Bebou (23′), 2-0 Kramarić (36′, penalty kick), 2-1 Doekhi (45’+4′), 3-1 Kramarić (90′), 3-2 Laidouni (90′) +5.), 4: 2 Dabbur (90.+9)

With a win, Union could have read sightseeing tips for Europe’s metropolises – the Champions League would have been fixed. However, a Köpenick defender torpedoed these plans. Diogo Leite’s header back to his goalkeeper failed completely, Ihlas Bebou sprinted in between and scored for Hoffenheim’s lead. Then Leite caused a penalty kick – he had hit both the ball and the opponent in the penalty area. Nevertheless, referee Dingert pointed to the point after studying the video and Andrej Kramaric converted. In the long stoppage time of the first half (Parte had been paused shortly after the start because of smoke bombs from the crowd), Danilho Doekhi headed the ball home from a corner.

The second round went quietly for a long time – and in the end it was all the wilder. First, Kramaric pushed in from a short distance to make it 3-1 after nice preliminary work, then substitute Assai Laidouni used the confusion in the TSG penalty area to come back. As Union threw everything forward, Munas Dabbur completed a counterattack for the final score. The Kraichgau team around trainer Pellegrino Matarazzo secured their place in the class with the win. Defender Ozan Kabak should be particularly happy about this, he was already relegated in his career with Stuttgart, Schalke and in England with Norwich – with TSG it will continue in the Bundesliga next season.

Werder Bremen – 1. FC Cologne 1: 1 (0: 1), Goals: 0: 1 Tigges (36th), 1: 1 Schmid (73rd)

The Bremen fans cheered against Cologne even before a goal was scored. Striker Niklas Füllkrug played from the start for the first time since mid-April. It was a quite surprising move by Werder coach Ole Werner to promote the returnee directly to the starting XI. But he may have felt compelled to do so because although Bremen had started the matchday in 12th place, the relegation zone was still uncomfortably close. The fact that Füllkrug had to let Cologne go first when scoring goals (Stefan Tigges scored with a head) was not to be blamed on him, but was due to the general harmlessness of Bremen. Significant: After a smart hoe preparation by Füllkrug, Jens Stage failed from ten meters at the goalkeeper. Romano Schmid did better a little later, scoring to make it 1-1. It was the deserved compensation that officially eliminated all relegation worries. Bremen stays in the league.

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