Bundesliga Roundup, Matchday 33
The 33rd round 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 0-1 Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart made a strong case for finishing in second place in the Bundesliga by defeating Augsburg 1-0. Their success this season is highlighted by the fact that this win has brought them level with their club’s highest points total in a 34-game season. Augsburg’s chances of qualifying for Europe are over. However, Stuttgart now have a good chance of securing second place if Bayern Munich falters in their final match.
RB Leipzig 1-1 Werder Bremen
RB Leipzig’s push to secure a top-four spot was hindered by a 1-1 draw with Werder Bremen at the Red Bull Arena, but they were able to secure the fourth position thanks to Dortmund losing to Mainz. Despite this, their unbeaten streak in the Bundesliga now stands at 10 matches. Although they dominated the latter stages of the game after a lackluster start, Leipzig couldn’t convert their chances into more goals and had to settle for a draw.
Werder Bremen put up a strong defensive performance and could have won if not for a crucial save by Péter Gulácsi. Fans of Ole Werner’s team can look forward to an exciting end to the season, as they are still in the running for an eighth-place finish and a potential spot in European competition next season if they finish strongly.
Freiburg 1-1 Heidenheim
SC Freiburg did not manage to give departing manager Christian Streich a win in his last game at Europa-Park Stadion against Heidenheim. Kevin Sessa’s goal resulted in the team’s winless streak at home extending to eight matches. Not being able to win in their fourth consecutive Bundesliga game is a setback for Freiburg, as it dropped them to 8th position. The celebratory atmosphere for Streich’s second-to-last game as manager was somewhat subdued. Despite facing strong pressure, Heidenheim held on and moved within 4 points of seventh place, with one game left.
Cologne 3-2 Union Berlin
Cologne made an impressive comeback from being two goals behind to secure a 3-2 victory against Union Berlin. This win gives Cologne a small possibility of avoiding automatic relegation from the Bundesliga on the last day of the season. Timo Schultz’s team has the opportunity to create history as no other Bundesliga club has ever overcome a gap as large as Cologne’s to 17th place with only a game left. Meanwhile, Union Berlin’s safety in the league is uncertain, as they are in 16th place, two points behind 15th place Mainz.
Monchengladbach 1-1 Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt fought back from a goal down to ensure another season of European football, drawing 1-1 against Borussia Mönchengladbach at Borussia-Park. The hosts also made progress towards securing their spot in the Bundesliga for the next season. Frankfurt dominated the final 20 minutes of the game, but apart from a few moments from Marmoush and Ekitike, they struggled to pose a significant threat to Borussia’s defense. The outcomes of other matches also benefited both teams, with Frankfurt securing European football and potentially a Europa League spot. Meanwhile, Mönchengladbach avoided automatic relegation with one match remaining in the season.
Mainz 3-0 Dortmund
Mainz pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory against Borussia Dortmund at the Mewa Arena in the Bundesliga, continuing their unbeaten streak to eight games and moving them above the relegation play-off spot. Mainz, led by Bo Henriksen, dominated in the first half, and there was little goal-scoring action in the later stages as Dortmund struggled to respond, halting their six-game winning streak at the Mewa Arena. Despite this loss, Dortmund will secure fifth place and anticipate participating in the UEFA Champions League next season, with their focus now on the upcoming final against Real Madrid.
Darmstadt 0-6 Hoffenheim
In the first half of the game, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim scored five clinical goals in a 6-0 win against SV Darmstadt 98, securing their place in the final European spot. They will face Bayern Munich in a crucial home match on the last day of the league. Despite already being relegated, SV Darmstadt 98 were shown mercy by Hoffenheim in the second half, allowing them to coast through the remainder of the game. This victory, following four consecutive away defeats, means that Hoffenheim’s season success will be decided in their final match against a struggling Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich 2-0 Wolfsburg
Bayern Munich regained the second spot in the Bundesliga with a comfortable 2-0 victory over VfL Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena, halting the visitors’ three-game winning streak. Towards the end of the match, both teams seemed to ease off, with Bayern not overly concerned about the result. However, the strong performances of the younger players for Bayern will be a positive takeaway for the club as they head into their final game of the season and beyond. On the other hand, Wolfsburg, already safe from relegation, may not be too disheartened by the loss, but their coach Ralph Hasenhüttl might be frustrated by their inability to challenge a rotated Bayern team.
Bochum 0-5 Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen made history in the 2023-24 season by achieving their 50th consecutive game without defeat, a record that may never be matched. Patrik Schick started the impressive 5-0 win against Bochum. If Bayer can avoid defeat in their upcoming league match against Augsburg, they will secure an unbeaten status. Meanwhile, Bochum is in danger of relegation and faces a crucial final match against Werder Bremen.
