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.
Mainz 05, Hannover 96 Claim Key Wins In Race For Europe
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.
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