2023/24 Bundesliga Roundup, Matchday 29: Leverkusen secure title after thrashing Werder Bremen

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Bundesliga Roundup, Matchday 29

The 29th set of matches in the 2023/24 Bundesliga season showcased thrilling games and impressive displays of skill. Here is a summary of the weekend’s matches.

Augsburg 2-0 Union Berlin

Phillip Tietz and Sven Michel scored for FC Augsburg in their 2-0 victory over Union Berlin at the WWK Arena. This marked Augsburg’s fifth win in their last seven matches. Union Berlin failed to score for the 16th time this Bundesliga season. Augsburg’s strong defense, led by Felix Uduokhai and Tim Breithaupt, kept the visitors at bay. Arne Maier set up Michel for the second goal. Augsburg’s win helped them cut the gap to sixth place to three points. This was their fourth consecutive home win against Union Berlin.

RB Leipzig 3-0 Wolfsburg

For the second consecutive round in the Bundesliga, RB Leipzig secured a three-goal victory, this time triumphing over Wolfsburg with a 3-0 win at the Red Bull Arena. This win was a retaliation for their previous losses to Wolfsburg earlier in the season and has helped solidify their position in the top 4 of the league. Following this victory, Leipzig now holds a comfortable 14-point lead over Frankfurt in sixth place, potentially securing a spot in the Champions League given the tournament’s expanded format. The only real competition for Leipzig at this point seems to be Dortmund, while Wolfsburg faces pressure after Mainz’s strong performance against Hoffenheim, leaving them just 2 points above the relegation zone.

Dani Olmo celebrates with his teammates during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and VfL Wolfsburg at Red Bull Arena.
Dani Olmo celebrates with his teammates during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and VfL Wolfsburg at Red Bull Arena.

Mainz 4-1 Hoffenheim

FC Mainz 05 made a strong comeback to defeat Hoffenheim 4-1 at their home stadium in the Bundesliga. Bo Henriksen, who took over in February, secured his fourth victory in eight matches. This resilient performance bodes well for Mainz in their fight against relegation, while Hoffenheim, who were convincingly beaten, have only managed to win one out of their last 11 away matches, leaving them out of contention for European spots.

Bochum 1-1 Heidenheim

Bochum and Bundesliga newcomers Heidenheim played to a 1-1 draw in a tense finish, maintaining Bochum’s unbeaten streak against Heidenheim to seven games. The result did little to ease concerns about Bochum’s survival in the league, but their resilience was commendable as they secured a valuable point in their battle against relegation. Football often delivers unexpected narratives, and in this case, Schlotterbeck redeemed himself for an earlier error by scoring a crucial header from a well-delivered corner kick late in the game.

Bayern Munich 2-0 FC Cologne

Bayern Munich achieved their first clean sheet in 11 games with a hard-fought 2-0 win over struggling Cologne in the Bundesliga. Cologne, who have the fewest goals in the league, were unable to mount a comeback and remain in the bottom two, four points away from safety. The outcome could have been different if Steffen Tigges had scored from the edge of the box after a mistake by Dayot Upamecano, but a crucial save by Ulreich ensured Bayern’s 20th consecutive unbeaten match against Cologne – the longest active streak in the Bundesliga against a single opponent. Thomas Müller sealed the win with a late goal, providing a confidence boost for Bayern ahead of their upcoming Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal.

Thomas Mueller celebrates during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and 1. FC Köln at Allianz Arena.
Thomas Mueller celebrates during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and 1. FC Köln at Allianz Arena.

Monchengladbach 1-2 Dortmund

Marcel Sabitzer scored twice in the first half to lead Borussia Dortmund to a 2-1 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach. This win prevented Gladbach from achieving a fourth consecutive Bundesliga home win against Dortmund for the first time since 1972. A crucial goal-line block in stoppage time denied Alassane Pléa’s attempt, and Tomáš Čvančara’s header also missed, leaving Gladbach without a win in five home matches. Dortmund will now focus on overturning a 2-1 deficit against Atlético in the Champions League second leg, while also preparing for important upcoming matches against Bayer Leverkusen and Leipzig.

Marcel Sabitzer celebrate during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Monchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund in Monchengladbach.
Marcel Sabitzer celebrate during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Monchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund in Monchengladbach.

Stuttgart 3-0 Frankfurt

Stuttgart put on an impressive first-half performance in the Bundesliga, securing a 3-0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt and extending their unbeaten streak to nine games. The team from Baden-Württemberg had essentially sealed the victory by halftime and comfortably maintained their lead, widening the gap to seven points over Borussia Dortmund in the race for a Champions League spot next season. Meanwhile, Eintracht Frankfurt’s winless streak in the league now stands at four matches, and despite still having control over their fate, they were unable to make a strong case for securing a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Deniz Undav celebrates with his teammates during the Bundesliga match between VfB Stuttgart and Eintracht Frankfurt at MHPArena.
Deniz Undav celebrates with his teammates during the Bundesliga match between VfB Stuttgart and Eintracht Frankfurt at MHPArena.

Darmstadt 0-1 Freiburg

Torsten Lieberknecht’s SV Darmstadt 98 experienced their 22nd consecutive winless Bundesliga match as they were defeated 1-0 at home by SC Freiburg, essentially sealing their relegation back to the second division. Despite struggling offensively, Darmstadt continued to press forward, with Aaron Seydel narrowly missing a chance to connect with Honsak’s shot. However, the ball ultimately went out of play, disappointing the fans at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor. This outcome means Darmstadt could face relegation as soon as next week if Mainz 05 and VfL Bochum win their upcoming matches, with Die Lilien trailing Mainz by 12 points in the relegation zone and 13 points behind the safety position.

Leverkusen 5-0 Werder Bremen

After years of comin short, Bayer 04 Leverkusen finally won the Bundesliga title for the first time in their history in a sensational victory over SV Werder Bremen. Xabi Alonso’s team ended Bayern Munich’s 11-year reign in impressive fashion, and now have the opportunity to achieve an undefeated season in the Bundesliga. The BayArena fans flooded the pitch in celebration, particularly when Wirtz scored his fourth goal and completed his first-ever senior hat-trick in the final moments of the game. This historic win has transformed Leverkusen, often dubbed ‘Neverkusen’, into champions, with the possibility of further success in the DFB-Pokal and UEFA Europa League still on the horizon.

Florian Wirtz celebrates with his teammates during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and SV Werder Bremen at BayArena.
Florian Wirtz celebrates with his teammates during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and SV Werder Bremen at BayArena.

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