Roundup: Bremen escape direct relegation, Bayern down Wolfsburg 4-0 to round off Bundesliga season

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, June 28, 2020
Adjust font size:

BERLIN, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Werder Bremen clinched a playoff berth after beating Cologne 6-1 and capitalizing on Fortuna Dusseldorf's defeat to Union Berlin. Meanwhile, newly crowned champions Bayern Munich kept it bowling after crushing Wolfsburg 4-0 at the last round in the Bundesliga 2019-2020 on Saturday.

The "Green-Whites" knew that only a win and a Dusseldorf loss would give them a last shot for their survival, and Florian Kohfeldt's men delivered when it mattered most.

Bremen took the reins from the kickoff and created chances in the opening stages through Yuya Osako and Milot Rashica.

However, Cologne almost caught the highly motivated hosts flat-footed in the ninth minute, but Bremen goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka was on guard to deny Anthony Modeste's shot on target.

Bremen remained unimpressed and turned up as Maximilian Eggestein teed up for Osako, who opened the scoring into the top right corner with 22 minutes played.

Only five minutes later, Bremen doubled their advantage thanks to Rashica, whose solo run and effort on target slipped through the legs of Cologne custodian Timo Horn.

Things went from bad to worse for Cologne as Bremen established a three-goal lead when Niclas Fullkrug tapped home Marco Friedl's pinpoint cross moments later.

After the restart, Bremen started where they left off and continued the one-sided affair as Davy Klaassen made the most of Rashica's rebound, which bounced off the post to poke home into the open goal with ten minutes into the second half.

Cologne was unable to put up resistance, whereas Bremen relentlessly worked on their goal difference as Osako had all time to make it 5-0 on the scoreboards after Theodor Gebre Selassie's build-up work at the hour mark.

The visitors scored their consolation goal out of the blue with Bremen's Rashica's back pass intercepted by Dominick Drexler, who reduced the arrears two minutes later.

Bremen responded well and restored their five-goal lead in the 68th minute as substitute Joshua Sargent benefitted on Rashica's assist to make it 6-1.

With the result, 16th-placed Bremen will have the chance in two playoff games to keep their top-flight status while newly-promoted Cologne finishes the season on the 14th position of the table.

Even though Bayern had their eighth straight Bundesliga title wrapped up two rounds ago, they sustained their efforts after cruising 4-0 past Wolfsburg.

The "Bavarians" didn't need a warm-up as Thomas Muller set up for Kingsley Coman, who made no mistake to beat onrushing Wolfsburg goalie Koen Casteels with less than five minutes played.

Wolfsburg tried to hold the pace, but neither Wout Weghorst nor Josip Brekalo was able to beat Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer at the other end of the pitch.

Bayern, though, showed no mercy and doubled their advantage before the break when Michael Cuisance drilled the ball from 20 meters into the top left corner.

The "Wolves" thought they had halved the deficit, but the goal was denied due to a foregone foul play by Daniel Ginczek before the break.

After the half time, both sides traded attacks and wasted several excellent opportunities, but for all that Robert Lewandowski reaped his third consecutive top scorer trophy after keeping his nerves from the penalty spot to mark his 34th goal of the season in the 72nd minute.

Joshua Guilavogui caused the penalty and received his marching order for his second bookable offense on top.

Bayern utilized their numerical advantage and extended the lead in the 79th minute after Muller tapped home Bayern's 100th goal of the season to seal the deal.

With the win, Bayern rounds off the season with their 16th competitive victory in a row before they face Bayer Leverkusen in the German Cup final on Saturday. Meanwhile, Wolfsburg slipped from the sixth to the seventh place to sew up a berth in Europa League's second qualifying round.

Elsewhere, Freiburg concluded the season on the eighth position after extending Schalke's winless run to 16 games following a 4-0 win.

Leipzig secured a top-three finish as Timo Werner, who will join Premier League outfit Chelsea, provided a brace to sink Augsburg 2-1 in his last game.

Newly promoted Union Berlin completed the season on the 11th spot as they ensured Fortuna Dusseldorf's relegation after a 3-0 victory.

Eintracht Frankfurt ended the campaign in eighth place after they overpowered last-placed Paderborn 3-2.

Fourth-placed Borussia Monchengladbach booked their ticket to the Champions League after they edged Hertha Berlin 2-1 on home soil.

Bayer Leverkusen stayed in fifth place and will play Europa League next season with a 1-0 win over Mainz while Hoffenheim upset second-placed Borussia Dortmund 4-0. Enditem

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
ChinaNews App Download
Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Enter the words you see:   
    Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter