Bundesliga, Week 24: Borussia Dortmund Crush Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen Snatch Late Equalizer

Mainz 05 rebounded from defeat at home to Bayern Munich with a win over TSG Hoffenheim, and after other results from the early kickoffs die Nullfunfer have restored their three-point cushion over sixth place. Andreas Ivanschitz gave them a first-half lead at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena, only for Bayern Munich loanee David Alaba to equalize seven minutes from time. However, Elkin Soto popped up with the winner three minutes later, ensuring that Mainz will remain in the final Europa League place for another week.

Elsewhere, Hannover 96 overtook Bayern Munich (who host Borussia Dortmund in the late kickoff) for the last Champions League place courtesy of an eighty-ninth minute winner by Christian Schulz against St. Pauli at the Millerntor-Stadion. Hamburg SV and Nürnberg were held to draws by FC Kaiserslautern and Schalke 04 respectively, damaging their chances of catching Mainz for the final European place. SC Freiburg’s hopes of Europa League football also took a knock as they fell 1-0 to a Lukas Podolski goal in the penultimate minute of normal time away to in-form FC Cologne.

Victories in Europe for Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen midweek have secured a fourth Champions League place for the Bundesliga in the 2012-13 Champions League campaign. The top three in 2011-12 will automatically qualify for the group stage and the fourth-place team will head to the play-off round of the Champions League qualifiers. The only German team that’s lost so far in the knock-out rounds is VfB Stuttgart, who lost 2-1 away and 2-0 at home against Benfica. Bayern should be pleased with their 1-0 advantage after the first leg against Inter Milan, and Bayer Leverkusen booked their place in the Europa League’s Round of 16 against Villarreal with a 2-0 second leg win over Metalist Kharkiv.

The Bundesliga’s crucial Friday six-pointer between VfL Wolfsburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach went the way of Pierre Littbarski’s side; Diego provided the attacking spark for the hosts, missing a penalty before scoring twice in the first half to open his account in 2011. ‘Gladbach were not out of the game, and pulled a goal back with just over 15 minutes to go via a Filip Daems penalty. The visitors had several chances to equalize before the end, but failed to find a second goal and remain in 18th, now five points from safety. Wolfsburg’s victory moves them up to 13th, three points clear of the drop.