Dortmund seal 2nd spot, Union stun Freiburg as Leverkusen secure CL berth
Borussia Dortmund’s Julian Brandt scored twice in a 3-1 victory over relegated Greuther Fuerth on Saturday to seal second place in the Bundesliga with one match remaining.
Brandt put the visitors in front, scoring on the rebound ater Fuerth keeper Andreas Linde had blocked a shot from Raphael Guerreiro.
The Germany international then struck again for a personal-best ninth time in the league in the 72nd, charging into the box to fire Dortmund back in front only two minutes ater the hosts had equalised. Dortmund made sure of the three points with substitute Felix Passlack’s deflected effort in the 77th to move up to 66 points.
Bayern Munich are top on 75 points and have already secured their 10th straight league crown. Theyplayvfbstutgartonsunday.bayerleverkusen are third on 61.
Meanwhile, Union Berlin coach Urs Fischer hailed an “amazing” achievement as his side stunned top-four hopefuls Freiburg with a 4-1 to seal a top-seven finish on a dramatic aternoon in the Bundesliga’s race for Europe.
“It’s amazing what the lads have managed to do this season,” Fischer told Sky, ater his side secured European qualification for the second year in a row.
Minnows Freiburg and Union have both been flying high this season, but it was the Berliners who soared on Saturday as they smashed in three first-half goals to put themselves on course for the Europa League in sixth and dent Freiburg’s hopes of a fairytale Champions League berth.
Freiburg remain in fourth overnight, but will now drop out of the Champions League places if RB Leipzig beat Augsburg on Sunday.
Union still have an outside chance of reaching the Champions League, having moved within a point of Freiburg with one match remaining.
“It’s incredible what we are managing to achieve year on year as such a small club,” said Union midfielder Grischa Proemel.
Proemel gave Union the lead early on, bundling the ball over the line from close range ater Taiwo Awoniyi’s effort hit the post. Lucas Hoeler had an equaliser ruled out for handball before Union captain Christopher Trimmel headed in Sheraldo Becker’s cross on the half-hour mark. Becker then rampaged down the right wing to give his side a 3-0 lead at half-time and leave the home fans shellshocked. Hoeler gave Freiburg fresh hope on
Minnows Freiburg and Union have both been flying high this season, but it was the Berliners who soared on Saturday as they smashed in three first-half goals to put themselves on course for the Europa League
the hour mark when he wriggled free of the back line to poke a long ball into the botom corner.
But substitute Andras Schafer added a fourth for Union to end any hopes of a home comeback.
While Freiburg were let to a rue a missed opportunity, third-placed Bayer Leverkusen secured Champions League qualification as Czech striker Patrik Schick fired them to a 4-2 win at Hoffenheim.
French striker Georginio Ruter gave Hoffenheim an early lead ater a mistake from Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie.
Schick then brought the visitors level with an elegant,first-timefinish,butchristophbaumgartner restoredtheleadwithaheaderjusttwominuteslater.
Yet Leverkusen turned the game on its head with two goals in three minutes in the second half.
Moussa Diaby sloted in an equaliser on 73 minutes, and Schick danced through the box to make it 3-2 moments later before Lucas Alario struck in stoppage time. Hoffenheim’s defeat means that Cologne are also effectively guaranteed European football next season with a top-seven finish, despite losing 1-0 at home to Wolfsburg.
Former Cologne player Yannick Gerhardt scored just before half-time to give Wolfsburg an unexpected win, but delirious Cologne fans still invaded the pitch to celebrate at full-time.