Bundesliga Matchday 30: It's Crunch Time for the Top Five

Bayern breathing down Magath’s neck

Bayern 2:1 M’gladbach

Life under Jupp Heynckes has started brightly for the Bavarians. A lovely Luca Toni pass (sounds weird, doesn’t it?) found Bastian Schweinsteiger, who finally scored. A Hans-Jorg Butt foul led to a spot kick for Gladbach, which Filip Daems duly converted.

A superb pass from Lukas Podolski found Hamit Altintop, who finished the move superbly. Hamit’s goal proved to be the winner.

The ironic thing is, last week, his brother sent Klinsmann packing!

Magath’s boys continue to howl

Wolfsburg 4:0 Hoffenheim

Hoffenheim were extremely close to scoring in the first half. However, it was Edin Dzeko who finally broke the deadlock after the hour mark. He added two more for a hat trick.

An Andreas Beck foul led to a Wolfsburg penalty. Grafite dispatched it. Beck, though, got sent off for a second yellow card.

Leverkusen finally breathe a sigh of relief

Schalke 1:2 Leverkusen

A goal apiece from Patrick Helmes and Renato Augusto helped Bayer storm to a 2-0 lead. Kevin Kuranyi scored in the 87th minute, but it proved to be too little, too late for the Royal Blues.

For Bruno Labbadia, it was a huge win. His team could still make it to Europe, who knows?

Hamburg dealt a blow by Hertha

Hamburg 1:1 Hertha

A wonderful ball from Ivica Olic found Marcell Jansen, who found the back of the net for the opener and a 1-0 lead. It was one-way traffic for most of the game.

Yet, clinical Hertha managed to steal a point. A shot from German U-21 international Gojko Kacar found the back of the net.

Köln all but guarantee their place for next season in the German top flight

Köln 1:0 Bremen

Are you surprised that Bremen lost? Frankly, I am not. A Milivoje Novakovic goal was enough to seal the deal for 11th-place Köln.

Hanover win…….away!

Bochum 0:2 Hanover

It’s hard to believe! Hanover, for the first time, received three points away from home! Hanover’s talisman, Arnold Bruggink, opened the scoring. Hanno Balitsch added a second with a header from close range.

It’s two points lost rather than one gained for VfB

Bielefeld 2:2 Stuttgart

Mathieu Delpierre opened the scoring for Stuttgart with a header. Delpierre’s back pass was picked up by Rudiger Kauf who crossed to Christopher Katongo for an equalizer. Stuttgart thus conceded an unnecessary equalizer.

A Thomas Hitzlsperger shot from distance found the back of the net to give Stuttgart the lead.

Stuttgart conceded another unnecessary goal. They conceded a penalty around eight minutes from time which Vlad Munteanu happily converted to give relegation threatened Arminia a point.

Karlsruher preparing for drop

Karlsruher 0:0 Cottbus

Basically, both these sides deserve to go down. A goalless draw will sink both teams into further trouble.

Dortmund has one eye on Europe

Eintracht 0:2 Dortmund

Mohammed Zidan scored the opener, and an own goal from Habib Bellaid gave Dortmund the win.

The top five this week are

Wolfsburg - 60

Bayern - 57

Hertha - 56

Stuttgart - 55

Hamburg- 55

News

Hamburg and Werder face off against each other at the HSH Nordbank Arena for the second leg of the UEFA Cup tie. Hamburg have an away goal to their name and lead the tie 1-0, thanks to a Piotr Trochowski header.

Stuttgart were four points behind the leaders at this stage of the season in 2007. This time the difference is five. Stuttgart may just have enough in them to win the title.

Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes has stated that Bayern’s goal for this season is Champions League qualification and not the title. Rummenigge has hinted that Frank Rijkaard may be given the job as Bayern coach. AZ boss Van der Gaal might also take over.

Well, that’s it for this week. Will Wolfsburg win their first Bundesliga tell? We will find out on May 23!