There was only one story of real significance in Germany from the past midweek: Schalke 04 knocked the holders, Bayern Munich, out of the DFB Pokal, booking a place in Berlin and heaping yet more trouble on Louis van Gaal’s side just days after they were humiliated at home by Borussia Dortmund.
Bundesliga, Week 25: Bayern Munich Visit Hannover 96, Hamburg SV Host Mainz 05 In Clashes For European Places
Bayern now face up to their most important task for the remainder of this season, which is ensuring that they qualify for the 2011-12 Champions League. In their way this weekend, and now ahead of them in the table in third place, is Mirko Slomka’s Hannover 96. In the midst of an astonishing season - their best ever by some distance - and at home to face Bayern this weekend, Hannover know that a win against the Bavarians will be a massive step towards playing in Europe’s top competition next season.
Just a few places down the table there is another crucial game this weekend as Mainz 05 travel to the Imtech Arena to face Hamburg SV in the battle for the final Europa League place. Die Nullfunfer returned to winning ways last weekend against Hoffenheim, and will need a win or draw to ensure they remain in fifth after this weekend.
In the Bundesliga’s Friday kickoff, Robert Lewandowski scored the only goal as Borussia Dortmund brushed aside FC Cologne at the Westfalenstadion, moving the league leaders fifteen points clear of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen. BVB are now within eighteen points -- six wins -- of Bayern Munich’s record for points in a single season.
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