Bundesliga Roundup, Matchday 34
The 34th set of games in the 2023/24 Bundesliga season featured exciting matches and impressive demonstrations of talent. Here is an overview of the weekend’s games.
Wolfsburg 1-3 Mainz
Mainz, after only earning 11 points in the first half of the season, secured their spot in the Bundesliga and extended their unbeaten streak to nine matches with a 3-1 victory over Wolfsburg. This victory marked Mainz’s sixth win in 13 matches since Henriksen took over, a significant improvement from their initial record of one win in their first 21 games. On the other hand, Wolfsburg finished the season in 12th place, just above Mainz, with their lowest points total in six years, which was already confirmed before the match.
Stuttgart 4-0 Monchengladbach
Stuttgart concluded an impressive Bundesliga season by surpassing Bayern Munich to claim second place with a 4-0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach at the MHPArena. They extended their unbeaten streak at home to 12 games and secured their best Bundesliga finish in 17 years. The home crowd celebrated even more upon learning that Bayern was losing 4-2 to Hoffenheim, solidifying Stuttgart’s second-place finish on the final day. Maximilian Mittelstädt hit the post late in the game as Stuttgart comfortably secured the unexpected top-two finish, while Gladbach’s winless streak stretched to six matches.
Werder Bremen 4-1 Bochum
Werder Bremen improved by four places compared to last season, finishing ninth in the Bundesliga after defeating Bochum 4-1 at the Weserstadion. This victory pushed Bochum into the relegation playoff. Werder Bremen secured their first top-half finish in five years. Now, Bochum must face 2. Bundesliga’s Dusseldorf in a crucial match to fight for their spot in the top division after failing to secure only their second Bundesliga win at Werder Bremen’s home ground in 35 attempts.
Union Berlin 2-1 Freiburg
Jannik Haberer scored a last-minute goal to secure Union Berlin’s safety with a 2-1 victory over SC Freiburg. Despite appearing to be on the brink of losing their chance for survival, Union was awarded a penalty for the second time in the game. Although Kevin Volland’s penalty hit the post in the 92nd minute, Haberer was able to capitalize on the rebound and score the crucial goal of the season for the hosts. Union Berlin managed to hold on during some tense moments to maintain their five-year tenure in the top division. On the other hand, the visitors dropped to 10th place and missed out on qualifying for European competition.
Hoffenheim 4-2 Bayern Munich
Andrej Kramarić scored three goals to lead Hoffenheim to a remarkable 4-2 comeback victory over Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. This marked Thomas Tuchel’s final match with Bayern, resulting in their first loss in seven head-to-head matches against Hoffenheim. Kramarić sealed the comeback with a goal that just made it inside the post, and then added another goal shortly after to complete his hat-trick, sparking jubilant celebrations at the PreZero Arena. Hoffenheim will compete in European football for the first time since the 2020/21 season. Bayern’s defeat means they finish outside the Bundesliga’s top two for the first time since the 2010/11 season.
Heidenheim 4-1 Cologne
FC Cologne’s five-year streak in the Bundesliga ended sadly with a 4-1 defeat by newcomers Heidenheim, who now have a shot at qualifying for the UEFA Europa Conference League after finishing eighth. Heidenheim’s 4-1 win, combined with other results, propelled them to eighth place. If Bayer 04 Leverkusen wins the UEFA Europa League next week, Heidenheim will secure a spot in the UECL qualification for the first time ever.
Frankfurt 2-2 RB Leipzig
Dino Toppmöller’s Eintracht Frankfurt had to overcome a two-goal deficit to clinch sixth place in the Bundesliga. If Borussia Dortmund defeats Real Madrid in the upcoming match, it would be sufficient to propel Die Adler into the UEFA Champions League. The focus for Eintracht will now shift to the UCL final, where Frankfurt supporters will temporarily switch their colors to yellow and black. If Dortmund emerges victorious against the record champions at Wembley, Frankfurt will return to Europe’s top club competition for the 2024/25 season.
Dortmund 4-0 Darmstadt
Borussia Dortmund concluded their Bundesliga season on a positive note with a 4-0 victory over SV Darmstadt 98, ahead of their upcoming UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid. The Signal Iduna Park erupted in applause as Reus, in his final Bundesliga appearance for Dortmund, scored a goal and provided an assist before being honored by the crowd. The match ended with a fourth goal in the 88th minute, sealing the win for the hosts as Donyell Malen capitalized on a loose ball in the box. Dortmund finished the season in fifth place, while Darmstadt remained at the bottom of the league.
Leverkusen 2-1 Augsburg
Bayer Leverkusen made history in the Bundesliga by finishing the season undefeated, defeating Augsburg on the last day. This victory extended their unbeaten streak to an impressive 51 matches in all competitions. They are now preparing for the UEFA Europa League final in Dublin, aiming to secure a treble of trophies and etch their name in football history.
