Bundesliga Week 27, Saturday recap: Schalke move up to fourth

Nobody made a move in the race for a top four place in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Bayern Munich are well out front and might as well be given the title now, but behind them Dortmund, Bayer and Schalke all won to keep the Champions League battle exactly as we had it to start the day.

Hannover have been awful away from home this season, but Konstantin Rausch gave them one happy away day on Saturday, notching a brace. Augsburg are now five points from safety and relegation is looking more and more likely.

Bayer scored five times and while one was in their own goal, they were far superior to Dusseldorf on Saturday. Stefan Kiebling put them in front from the penalty spot, but a Daniel Schwaab own goal sent them to the half level. It was no worry, though, because Andrew Schurrle added two second half goals before Kiebling found his second goal of the game in the waning minutes to seal the win.

It took just 12 seconds for Adam Szalai to score and give Mainz an amazingly early lead, but it would not last. Aaron Hunt scored halfway through the second half to earn Werder Bremen a point to leave Mainz three points back of fourth place Schalke.

All Freiburg needed was some Max Kruse. The Freigburg man scored two second half goals to deliver a good home win that has the club back in contention for a Europa League place.

Schlake played with fire on Saturday. They went 71 minutes without a goal and were staring at some terrible dropped points home to Hoffenheim, but then Marco Holger scored to get them in front. Raffael Araujo then added a second before Teemu Pukki made what was a tense match look much more comfortable than it was for Schalke.

Robert Lewandowski came to BVB’s rescue, striking in the 82nd minute to deliver three points to the visitors. Lukasz Piszczek put Dortmund in front, but Alexandru Maxum level just after the hour mark. That had the match looking like a sure-fire draw, but Lewandowski had a winner in him and Dortmund kept their four-point lead over Bayer for second.

Um, lol. Click above for a match report.

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