Bottom Hertha BSC, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and FC Augsburg celebrated important victories in the fight against relegation from the Bundesliga.
The Berliners won 2-1 (2-1) against VfB Stuttgart and reduced the gap to the Swabians on the relegation place to three points. Hoffenheim won 3-1 (3-0) in a turbulent game against cup finalists Eintracht Frankfurt and are now four points ahead of Stuttgart.
Augsburg won against Champions League candidate 1. FC Union Berlin 1-0 (0-0) and has three games before the end of the season six points more than the Swabians. The penultimate VfL Bochum, tied with VfB on points, lost 0:2 (0:1) at Borussia Mönchengladbach.
In quick revenge for the cup semifinals, RB Leipzig won again at SC Freiburg, this time 1-0 (0-0). The Saxons passed in third place, Freiburg slipped out of the premier class area of the table behind Union. As in the 5-1 win in the cup semi-final during the week, Leipzig dominated the first half hour in the same place – only RB remained without a goal. Only Kevin Kampl (73rd) redeemed the traveling fans of the Saxons.
Hertha took the lead through Marc-Oliver Kempf (29th). Serhou Guirassy (38′) quickly equalized, but Florian Niederlechner (45′) scored just before half-time to put the visitors back in front. The fans then saw an intense game with few chances.
Christoph Baumgartner (8th) scored early for Hoffenheim, Andrej Kramaric (41st) with a penalty kick and Ihlas Bebou (45th 3) followed up. Shortly before the third goal, Eintracht coach Oliver Glasner saw the red card for complaining (45.2), after the half-time break Hoffenheim’s Stanley Nsoki saw the red for a serious foul (48.). Mario Götze (54th) scored a little later to connect.
Bochum had to cope with the goal scored by Jonas Hofmann (35th) in the first half. Lars Stindl (90.1) decided the game. VfL is in a direct relegation zone. In Augsburg, Dion Beljo (53rd) scored for the hosts, who have their sights set on staying up with the win.
