Matchday 33 - live bulletins
Cologne - Since the Bundesliga's inception, never before have the bottom six teams been at risk of dropping out of the division with only one round of fixtures still to go.
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As the closest relegation battle in German top-flight history heads into the final straight, bundesliga.com brings you all the reaction to the penultimate weekend of action.
MATCHDAY 33 RESULTS:
Saturday 16 May
VfL Wolfsburg 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
SV Werder Bremen 0-2 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2-0 TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
FC Augsburg 1-2 Hannover 96
Hertha Berlin 0-0 Eintracht Frankfurt
VfB Stuttgart 2-1 Hamburger SV
1. FSV Mainz 05 2-0 1. FC Köln
SC Freiburg 2-1 FC Bayern München
FC Schalke 04 1-0 SC Paderborn 07
Monday 18 May
Thanks and bis bald!
That brings to an end our updates for Matchday 33. We'll be back with one more round of 2014/15 live bulletins on Thursday as we build up to the last set of fixtures of the current campaign. In the meantime, make sure you keep abreast of all the latest news from the Bundesliga right here!
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Badstuber's greetings
Bayern München defender Holger Badstuber may be sidelined with a thigh muscle injury, but the Germany international seems a happy man indeed judging from this picture:
Welcome return
As well as
Marco Höger
taking to the training pitch once more for Schalke (see below), youngster
Kaan Ayhan
is also back in action following injury.
Have your say
Get in touch with us via
with your suggestions for the Matchday 33 Bundesliga Team of the Week:
Bayern to compete in 2015 Audi Cup
2014/15 Bundesliga champions FC Bayern München will play in this summer's four-team Audi Cup. The Bavarians won the pre-season get-together in 2013...
It's all true!
FC Ingolstadt 04 fans may be waking up on Monday morning wondering if it was all just a dream. Well it wasn't! It was all true, as the Bundesliga 2 champions reminded with this Tweet:
It was not a dream, the Schanzer are champions! What an afternoon, what an evening...
Day of rest
While many Bundesliga clubs are already sweating ahead of their final match of the season, Hoffenheim coach Markus Gisdol has given his team a day off. They will return to the pitch on Tuesday and Wednesday at 10am with both sessions open to the public:
Schalke hard at work
Bremen's war wounds
The exertions of Saturday's 2-0 defeat at home to Gladbach have taken their toll on the Bremen squad, with several players unable to take part in training this morning:
Many happy returns!
Good morning!
The dust is still settling on a drama-filled weekend of Bundesliga action, but fear not as bundesliga.com is here to help you make sense of it all! Stick with us throughout the day for the latest happenings in the league of the world champions...
Sunday 17 May
Congratulations to Ingolstadt!
The Bavarian side win their first ever Bundesliga promotion courtesy of a 2-1 victory at home to RB Leipzig:
Aalen demoted
Inside view
1860 Munich have tweeted this impressive image from the almost packed out Allianz Arena, with 68,500 fans watching the Lions take on Bavarian rivals 1. FC Nürnberg:
Forward planning
The 2014/15 season is not done and dusted yet, but the attention is already turning to next season. Bayer Leverkusen will be welcoming Christoph Kramer back from a two-year loan spell at Gladbach, while Konstantinos Stafylidis is also due to return from Fulham FC, as the
Werkself
announced on Twitter:
Promotion push
With six sides bidding to avoid relegation to Bundesliga 2 next season, the clubs looking to replace them are in action in Matchday 33 of the Bundesliga 2 season, which you can follow on our ticker. Click the link below for more!
Frontzeck upbeat
"We're in good form," said Hannover boss Michael Frontzeck to the assembled press today. "The win [at Augsburg] gives us confidence. The team are trying their utmost. We want to beat Freiburg and will prepare best we can."
Ingolstadt eyeing promotion
Bundesliga 2 leaders FC Ingolstadt, meanwhile, seem all set for this afternoon's clash against RB Leipzig. "Pitch in great condition, weather also good: We can't wait for our home game against Leipzig to kick off," says this tweet. The Bavarians would be certain to win promotion with a win today.
Beiersdorfer positive
Hamburg's sporting director Dietmar Beiersdorfer was already looking ahead to the Red Shorts' final fixture of the current campaign after yesterday's loss. "We'll make sure the team shows the right attitude and will give it's all to beat Schalke."
HSV back in training
Hamburg have already taken to the pitch this morning. The Bundesliga evergreens are second from bottom following yesterday's Stuttgart defeat, but they're still in with a realistic chance of avoiding relegation should they manage to get the better of Schalke 04 on Saturday.
Guten Morgen!
Hello and welcome to another day packed with news and reaction from Germany's top division. We'll be looking back on an enthralling Saturday, but don't forget there's plenty of action in Bundesliga 2 too this afternoon (all nine games kicking off at 15:30 CEST / 13:30 GMT), as surprise packages FC Ingolstadt and Darmstadt 98 could both seal promotion to the top flight today.
Saturday 16 May
Klinsmann congratulates
Former Germany World Cup winner and current USA coach Jürgen Klinsmann has extended his congratulations to Fabian Johnson and his Gladbach team-mates on securing automatic qualification for next season's UEFA Champions League:
Mainz safe
The 05ers'
against a Köln outfit, who only secured their top-flight status last weekend, puts an end to any lingering relegation doubts...
Stuttgart's 12th man
Stuttgart's
over Hamburger SV takes Huub Stevens' side out of the automatic relegation places into 16th. Victory against Paderborn next week would mean they couldn't finish any lower than the relegation play-off spot they currently occupy.
Translation:
"Our fans were fantastic today, just as they have been in our last few games."
Schalke into Europe
Not the Champions League, but Schalke have secured a berth in the Europa League following their
at home to Paderborn, who are now bottom with a game to go.
Foals seal deal!
Gladbach's
in Bremen takes them into the group stages of the Champions League for the first time!
Record in sight for Bayer?
The
Werkself
can equal a Bundesliga record this afternoon:
Line-ups:
Here are the players heading into action today at 15:30 CEST.
SC Freiburg - FC Bayern
Augsburg - Hannover
Wolfsburg - Dortmund
Hertha Berlin - Eintracht Frankfurt
Mainz - Köln
Bremen - Gladbach
Schalke - Paderborn
Leverkusen - Hoffenheim
Stuttgart - Hamburg
Nice day for it
The conditions look perfect for football in Freiburg...
Gates open
The fans are streaming in to the Mercedes-Benz Arena and grounds up and down Germany for today's matches, which can only mean kick-off is approaching...
Time check
Today's crucial Bundesliga action will be screened around the globe. Check out what time kick-off is in your country with this useful guide:
New record in sight for Bayern
With Manuel Neuer (pictured) carrying a knock, Pepe Reina suspended and Tom Starke injured, fourth-choice goalkeeper Ivan Lucic could play in goal for Bayern away to Freiburg today where the Bundesliga champs will be hoping to defend their 16-goal record against them so far this season.
New Green-Whites kit
Werder Bremen are presenting their home jersey for the 2015/16 campaign on a huge banner outside the Weserstadion:
Ein von SV Werder Bremen (@werderbremen) gepostetes Foto am 16. Mai 2015 um 4:09 Uhr
Werder and Gladbach hopeful
Bremen, like Mönchengladbach, have everything to play for when the sides go head to head at the Weserstadion, with the former still in with a chance for Europa League qualification while Gladbach could book their ticket for the Champions League group stages with an away win.
Inside view
Eintracht Frankfurt have sent out this Vine from Berlin's Olympiastadion, with little more than three hours to go until kick off in the German capital.
Lewandowski against favourite opponents
Bayern frontman Robert Lewandowski, who is still in with a chance of topping the Bundesliga goalscorer charts - trailing injured Frankfurt attacker Alexander Meier by three - has managed to get the better of today's opposition Freiburg in all eight encounters so far and scored an impressive ten goals against the Baden-Württemberg club.
Red Shorts enjoying huge support
As many as 6,000 Hamburg fans are currently making their way down south to Stuttgart for the relegation-threatened sides' clash, confirms this tweet.
Rolfes and Reinartz last home bow
Long-time team captain Simon Rolfes and fellow defensive midfielder Stefan Reinartz will be wearing Bayer 04 Leverkusen colours for one last time at the BayArena today against Hoffenheim, with the former hanging up his boots at the end of the season and Reinartz's new club yet to be confirmed.
Bayern keen
The confirmed Bundesliga champions will be keen to bounce back from two consecutive league defeats when they travel to lowly SC Freiburg this afternoon:
Fan backing
VfB Stuttgart will be taking to the field in front of a sell-out Mercedes-Benz Arena crowd at home to fellow strugglers Hamburger SV today, with on-loan Chelsea FC midfielder Oriol Romeu very much in positive spirits.
Bayern's 1996 triumph
Before we get started our matchday coverage, though, make sure you check out those memorable images from Bayern München's 1996 UEFA Cup win:
Guten Morgen!
Hello and welcome to another day full of latest news and updates from the German top flight! Stick with us for an action-packed adventure with nine games taking place simultaneously! Bring. It. On!
Friday 15 May
Royal Blue excitement
Schalke are seemingly counting down the minutes until kick-off against Paderborn, when Roberto Di Matteo's men will attempt to consolidate their place in European competition next season.
The Eagles have landed
Eintracht Frankfurt have arrived safely in Berlin ahead of their meeting with Hertha:
Relegation nail-biter
This year's six-way relegation battle may be the closest in Bundesliga history, but that is not to say there haven't been some rollercoaster rides before now. Just take a look at the epic campaign from 1998/99 in the video below!
Ready for BVB
Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking is putting his charges through their paces one final time ahead of their heavyweight clash with Dortmund:
Pictorial overview
Hertha Berlin have announced the squad that will host Eintracht Frankfurt at the Olympiastadion tomorrow:
Fond farewell
As tomorrow will be Leverkusen's final home game of the season, the club have announced that there will be an official farewell ceremony for outgoing captain
, who is retiring, and
, who opted against a contract extension.
Finishing touches
With less than 24 hours to go until the Bundesliga's simultaneous kick-offs tomorrow, both Köln and Schalke are gearing up for their respective fixtures against Mainz and Paderborn.
Collapsing goalposts
Ahead of the clash between Bremen and Gladbach tomorrow check out a slice of Bundesliga history from when the sides met back in the 1970/71 campaign, courtesy of the Bundesliga's official YouTube channel:
No dampened spirits
Eager to learn
If Jonas Hector's ability to learn a new language is anything like his skills on a football field, he'll be speaking Japanese in no time!
"Qualifying for the Champions League is like winning the Bundesliga title for us."
Gladbach presser
Foals head coach Lucien Favre and sporting director Max Eberl are in their seats...
"We're not counting our chickens yet. We've still got two games left - we can achieve great things. We'll see where we are after these two games."
"Manuel Neuer has a knock, I don't know [if he can play]. Pepe Reina is suspended. Is Tom Starke ready? Maybe Ivan [Lucic] can play."
'We'll be back'
Pep Guardiola doesn't seem too downhearted after FC Bayern's Champions League exit...
"The atmosphere within the camp has been excellent. We certainly haven't given up hope and maybe - this time - we'll have Lady Luck on our side."
Werder Bremen press conference
Viktor Skripnik will be speaking to the media shortly ahead of
die Grün-Weißen
's clash with Gladbach
Having a laugh
Relaxed and amusing training session at BVB today.
Welcome back!
And what a match it was too: An astonishing 6-3 victory over Bavarian rivals 1. FC Nürnberg!
Thursday 14 May
How cute!
That about wraps it up for today's bulletins, but tune in tomorrow when we'll have more build-up to a clean sweep of nine Saturday fixtures. In the meantime, here's Jerome Boateng (c.) wishing his dad well on father's day. Baby-faced assassin indeed... good night!
Travelling Eagles
Eintracht Frankfurt can expect fantastic support in the capital for their final away match of the season at Hertha on Saturday:
Kazuki having fun
After assisting the second goal in last week's win over Schalke, Köln's Kazuki Nagasawa can be forgiven a little mischief:
Reus to return?
Here's Dortmund's Marco Reus limbering up in training this afternoon. The Germany international returned to team training this week following muscle problems and could feature against Wolfsburg at the weekend.
Team talk
Viktor Skripnik addresses his players ahead of Werder Bremen's clash with high-flying Gladbach on Saturday.
Foals' bogey team?
Werder Bremen have a good record against Gladbach in recent years...
TRANSFER NEWS!
Philipp Tschauner is leaving St. Pauli. The goalkeeper will join Hannover 96 in the summer.
Up next...
"Sven Bender twisted his ankle in midweek and Sebastian Kehl has picked up a knock. We'll have to wait and see [if they'll be fit]. Jakub Blaszczykowski has returned to light training and Marco Reus is training normally today."
Kloppo is in the building
Father's Day press conference with Jürgen Klopp on ahead of Wolfsburg vs. Dortmund is underway!
Wolves sporting director Klaus Allofs: "For us, it's all about ensuring the best possible end to an impressive Bundesliga season."
Wolfsburg press conference...
...coming right up!
"We should be looking forward"
Bruno Labbadia
, speaking ahead of Hamburg's crucial trip to Stuttgart:
"Despite the seriousness of the situation, we should be looking forward to the game."
"We've improved a lot in our last couple of games, but we haven't achieved anything yet. As it's a public holiday today we wanted to give our fans the opportunity to see us in action [in training] today."
Stricken Soto agrees new Mainz deal
Fantastic news for 1. FSV Mainz 05 and their injured midfielder Elkin Soto in particular. The Colombian, who is currently recovering from a serious knee injury, has agreed a new contract with Martin Schmidt's side.
"We're highly motivated - as you could see against Hamburg [on Matchday 32]. HSV weren't at their best, but we played with a lot more freedom than they did."
Never stop believing
This emotive montage of Stuttgart's recent upswing in form should leave fans in no doubt that VfB have what it takes to win their final home game of the season against Hamburg this weekend and eventually beat the drop:
Game-faces on
Three wins and a draw in their last four home games is ideal form for Stuttgart to be in as they prepare to welcome Hamburg to the Mercedes-Benz Arena this weekend. This clash between two of German football heavyweights could have major implications on which clubs drop into Bundesliga 2 at the end of the season.