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Bundesliga: Cologne still alive, Bayern Munich beaten

March 17, 2018

Two upsets and a moment of magic finished off an incredible Bundesliga Matchday 27. After 17 goals across five games on Saturday, the Bundesliga just kept delivering in Sundays three fixtures.

Deutschland Bundesliga 1. FC Köln - Bayer Leverkusen
Image: imago/DeFodi

Cologne 2-0 Leverkusen, RheinEnergieStadion
(Osako 9', Zoller 69')

A huge win in the local derby keeps Cologne's slim hopes of Bundesliga survival alive. An early goal from Yuya Osako set Cologne on their way, and Leverkusen stopped themselves from getting back into the game when forward Lucas Alario was sent off for a swinging elbow spotted by VAR. A man down the visitors struggled, and eventually Cologne took advantage - Simon Zoller latching onto a poor header from Charles Aranguiz to score. The win means Cologne move up a spot in the table for the first time since Matchday 3, and are now just five points off the relegation spot with seven games left. After Schalke, Dortmund and Frankfurt all won, Leverkusen missed the chance to keep pace with the top four.

Timo Werner finally scored after seven games without finding the back of the netImage: Imago/Picture Point LE

Leipzig 2-1 Bayern, Red Bull Arena
(Keita 37', Werner 56' — Wagner 12') 

With their first ever win against Bayern, Leipzig have kept themselves in contention for a European spot. After a poor opening spell during which the visitors took the lead from a smart Sandro Wagner header, Leipzig dominated proceedings and could have won by more than one. Naby Keita - one of the outstanding performers on the day - eventually found a way through a stubborn Sven Ulreich and after the break, super sub Timo Werner slotted into the far corner from some trademark transitional play by the Leipzig. The 22-year-old striker might have added another, Bayern could have had a penalty late on but VAR said no but in the end neither mattered as the hosts came out on top to hand Bayern their first league defeat since November.

Julian Pollersbeck had a great game in goal for HSV, but he couldn't stop super sub Salomon Kalou from scoring the winnerImage: picture alliance/dpa/D. Reinhardt

Hamburg 1-2 Hertha Berlin, Volksparkstadion
(Santos 26' — Lazaro 55', Kalou 62')

Relegation looms for Hamburg who were made to pay for not making the most of a promising first half. Julian Pollersbeck kept out a fierce shot from Vladimir Darida with a smart reflex save, and after one or two missed chances, the home side soon put together a flowing move that, to the delight of the HSV fans, Brazilian left back Douglas Santos coolly finished off. Pollersbeck made another save just before the break to keep the home side ahead, but two goals in seven second-half minutes ended Hamburg's joy. Valentino Lazaro poked home from a perfectly-placed cross before poor marking saw substitute Salomon Kalou convert from close range. Hamburg tried to find an equalizer, but not for the first time this season were left empty handed. HSV have now gone 14 games without a league win, which is a new unwanted club record.

Breel Embolo's impact as a substitute ended up making the difference for SchalkeImage: Imago/J. Huebner

Wolfsburg 0-1 Schalke, Volkswagen Arena
(Knoche o.g. 87')

Schalke's ability to win close games continued as they stole three points in Wolfsburg. Both sides missed one good chance each to take the lead in the first half, but the game came to life in the final 20 minutes. Paul Verhaegh had a penalty saved by Ralf Fährmann right when Wolfsburg looked like good value for a goal. Things went from bad to worse for the home side when Robin Knoche converted Breel Embolo's cross into his own net. Landry Dimata might have equalized in injury time, but it was a day to forget for Wolfsburg. With the win, Schalke move four points clear of Dortmund and prevent Bayern Munich from celebrating the title on Matchday 27.

Hübner's header was his third of the Bundesliga seasonImage: imago/J. Huebner

Gladbach 3-3 Hoffenheim, Borussia Park
(Drmic 33', Stindl 72', Ginter 90' — Hübner 12', Kramaric pen. 57', Grillitsch 73')

Hoffenheim will be the more frustrated of the teams after a six-goal thriller in Mönchengladbach. Benjamin Hübner's header from a corner gave the visitors the lead and after Oliver Baumann denied Patrick Herrmann, substitute Josip Drmic latched on to a perfect through ball from Mickael Cuisance to equalize. The goal was checked by VAR and although Drmic's arm was involved in controlling the ball, there was no intention from the striker and so referee Martin Petersen awarded the goal. A sloppy foul from Jonas Hofmann allowed Andrej Kramaric to restore Hoffenheim's lead from the spot but Gladbach pegged Hoffenheim back again when Lars Stindl scored his first goal in nearly 1,400 minutes. More sloppy play from Hofmann just moments after saw Florian Grillitsch finish smartly. Incredibly though, Matthias Ginter converted at the back post to share the spoils.

Is Michy Batshuayi the signing of the season? His impact and Dortmund has been game-changingImage: imago/M. Müller

Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Hannover, Signal Iduna Park
(Batshuayi 24')

Michy Batshuayi's brilliant first-half flick was the difference for Borussia Dortmund against Hannover as Peter Stöger's side closed the gap on second-placed Schalke to just one point. In a close game that Dortmund wasted chances to end the contest sooner, Batshuayi's sixth goal of the season was enough to seal a much-needed three points after a disappointing week for the club. Twice denied by the post, it was the Belgian's near-post flick from a corner that ultimately handed the visitors their fourth consecutive defeat.

Is Kevin-Prince Boateng the signing of the season? His impact at Frankfurt is beyond the numbersImage: Reuters/K. Pfaffenbach

Frankfurt 3-0 Mainz, Commerzbank-Arena
(Boateng 7', Jovic 22', Rebic 42')

Mainz remain in deep relegation trouble after a first-half to forget against a soaring Frankfurt team. The hosts took the lead when Kevin-Prince Boateng's volley crept in at the near post past third-choice keeper Florian Müller, who should have done better. Luka Jovic slid in a second after neat team play and then a low strike by Ante Rebic from the edge of the box crept in at the near post to leave Mainz down and out at halftime. Frankfurt might have added more in the second half, but Mainz's defeat could leave them stranded in the relegation playoff spot.

Ishak Belfodil hasn't had it easy since joining Werder Bremen but two goals against Augsburg will have done his confidence wondersImage: Bongarts/Getty Images/A. Grimm

Augsburg 1-3 Werder Bremen, WWK Arena
(Khedira 63' — Belfodil 4', 40', Kruse 82')

Werder Bremen's good form continued as they saw off an Augsburg team slowing down towards the end of the season. Early on, Ishak Belfodil cut in from the wing to drill a low shot into the far corner. Just as Augsburg were getting back into the game, poor marking from a throw-in was punished by the visitors as Belfodil snuck in to score his second. In the second half, Rani Khedira headed home a fantastic cross from Philipp Max and then Jiri Pavlenka pushed Michael Gregoritsch's powerful free kick onto the post as Augsburg threatened. But Max Kruse curled in a late third and Bremen have now taken 13 points in their last six games and look to have put any fears of relegation well and truly behind them.

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