Matchday 31: live blog
FC Bayern München could wrap up the title, but elsewhere there are pivotal points on offer in the race for Europe and the battle to beat the drop on Matchday 31.
Fixtures/results (kick-off at 15:30 CEST/13:30 GMT unless stated)
As ever, bundesliga.com has the latest to keep you bang up to date with everything going on in the Bundesliga this weekend.
Friday
Hamburger SV 2-1 SV Werder Bremen
Saturday
VfB Stuttgart vs Borussia Dortmund
Hertha Berlin vs FC Bayern München
FC Ingolstadt 04 vs Hannover 96
FC Schalke 04 vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen (kick-off 18:30 CEST/16:30 GMT)
Sunday
Borussia Mönchengladbach vs TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
Eintracht Frankfurt vs 1. FSV Mainz 05 (kick-off 17:30 CEST/15:30 GMT)
23:45 - That's a wrap!
That's it from us for now. Well played, HSV - a huge win for them - but one that does relegation-threatened Bremen no favours. They'll be hoping the likes of Stuttgart and Augsburg slip up tomorrow - a day which could also see Bayern crowned champions ahead of schedule. You do not want to miss that! Bis morgen!
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23:30 - Ostrzolek not getting carried away
Hamburg left-back Matthias Ostrzolek insists the Red Shorts' work is not done yet, despite moving six points clear of the relegation zone with victory at home to Bremen. "We will stay focused on ourselves," he said. "We can't rest on our laurels now." He also went on to big up reserve goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny, who saved a second-half penalty from Claudio Pizarro: "We've got one of the best goalkeepers in the league and probably the best back-up keeper in the division."
22:23 - Full time!
HSV survive Bremen's late pressure and hold on for a priceless win that gives them some much-needed breathing room above the relegation zone. Matters look to be going right down to the wire for the visitors, however.
22:03 - Bremen pushing
That goal has put the wind in Bremen's sails and they're looking threatening going forward now. Can they snatch a late equaliser?
21:53 - Bremen goal! (65')
Hamburg fail to clear their lines at the back and the ball falls to substitute Anthonjy Ujah. The Nigerian striker's first shot is well saved, but the rebound goes straight back to him and he heads in to reduce the deficit.
21:46 - penalty to Bremen!
Johan Djourou brings down Claudio Pizarro with a clumsy challenge and the referee points to the penalty spot. Pizarro dusts himself off to take the spot-kick, but his weak effort is easily saved.
21:33 - second half!
The ball is rolling again in Hamburg, with Gojko Kacar now on in place of Nicolai Müller for the hosts.
21:16 Half-time at the Volksparkstadion
HSV lead 2-0 at the interval - no less than Bruno Labbadia's men deserve. Bremen have had their chances, but it looks like they'll be occupying the relegation play-off place for a little while longer, UNLESS they can mount a second-half comeback!
21:00 Hamburg goal! (31')
Lewis Holtby delivers a pin-point cross into the six-yard area, where Pierre-Michel Lasogga is waiting to head home his and Hamburg's second goal of the game. Long way back for Werder now...
20:55 - Huge chance for the visitors!
Florian Grillitsch is played through, he's one-on-one with Jaroslav Drobny... but the Czech custodian blocks the 20-year-old's effort with an outstretched leg. Still 1-0 HSV!
20:47 - Can Bremen respond?
Not yet, anyway. A long ball over the top of the Hamburg defence releases Fin Bartels, but his volley flies well wide of the target. A rare sight of goal for Viktor Skripnik's men.
20:35 - Hamburg goal! (5')
The hosts take the lead after some pretty poor defending from Bremen. Jaroslav Drobny punts it long, and Papy Djilobodji fails to clear. Nicolai Müller gets in behind and squares for Pierre-Michel Lasogga to tap into an empty net at the far post. An uphill climb for Bremen now...
20:30 - kick-off
Underway on a gorgeous evening in Hamburg!
20:27 - Live on the radio!
Don't forget you can also listen to the Nordderby live on Bundesliga radio here. Who will blink first?
20:23 - The work of 11 men
There really are not enough superlatives in the dictionary to describe the great Claudio Pizarro...
20:05 - #BLMatchball
Did you know you could win the ball being used for the Nordderby? Click here to find out how!
19:54 - sun setting in Hamburg
19:47 - a bad omen?
After usual first-choice goalkeeper Rene Adler was sent off last week, bundesliga.com's stat-man informs us that Hamburg have lost the last three games with replacement Jaroslav Drobny between the sticks.
19:40 - pre-match stats
- Only Bayern have won more Bundesliga games played on a Friday than Hamburg.However, HSV have lost as many home games this term (seven) as in the whole of last season.
19:30 - Bremen line-up
19:23 - Hamburg line-up
No major surprises from Bruno Labbadia.
19:22 - what a view!
19:20 - pre-match facts and figures
Werder ended a run of four successive matches without a win on Matchday 30, but remain in 16th place going into this one. Below you can enjoy highlights of Bremen's win over Wolfsburg on Matchday 30.
19:08 - Pizza delivering
Claudio Pizarro likes playing Hamburg...
18:49 - Nordderby on Snapchat
There's a special Volksparkstadion filter on Snapchat for tonight's Nordderby. Check out the home of Hamburg in an exclusive video here.
18:40 - Skripnik the hero
Can he inspire his Bremen side to victory tonight, though, is the key question?
18:27 - Schmidt focussed
Leverkusen travel to take on FC Schalke 04 tomorrow.
18:08 - #VFBBVB predicted line-ups
17:51 - Nordderby legends
Get in the mood for tonight's clash between Hamburg and Bremen by checking out the top ten players to have turned out for both sides.
17:26 - Freiburg set
Here's a view of SC Freiburg's Schwarzwald-Stadion ahead of tonight's clash with basement boys MSV Duisburg. Christian Streich's side, currently top of Bundesliga 2, will be promoted this weekend if they beat the Zebras and third-place 1. FC Nürnberg lose at home to 1. FC Union Berlin tomorrow.
16:55 - Dortmund en route to Stuttgart
16:53 - Bayern en route to Berlin
"En route to Berlin! Let's go for the three points! Mia San Mia," tweets Bayern midfielder Arturo Vidal below.
16:42 - Cohen extends
Israel international midfielder Almog Cohen has extended his contract at FC Ingolstadt 04 until June 2018, the club have confirmed on Twitter.
16:32 - what is the Nordderby?
Not sure if you know your Aufstieg from your Abstieg or your Schwarz-Gelben from your Grün-Weißen? Rest easy because bundesliga.com is here to help with this handy A-Z dictionary of German football terms.
15:57 - The race to the bottom.
15:36 - Bundesliga radio live
Bundesliga radio provides live commentary of German top-flight games every Matchday throughout the season. There are five more for you on Matchday 31, including Friday's Nordderby.
14:53 - The Nordderby in ten facts
Take a look at some of the quirky facts the rivalry between Hamburg and Bremen has thrown up over the years
11:53 - HOFFENHEIM COACH JULIAN NAGELSMANN...
On Sunday's trip to Mönchengladbach - read the preview here
9:21 - BATTLE OF THE MASCOTS
FC Schalke 04 play host to Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Saturday night with both sides knowing three points could go a long way to helping them secure a top-four finish this season, but how did the team mascots get on in a series of wacky challenges? Watch the video below to find out...
9:12 - WAGNER COMPOSING A MASTERPIECE
In the build-up to Matchday 31, bundesliga.com has been looking at some of the players who have had a significant impact in their sides' attempts to secure Bundesliga survival this season. One man who has stolen more headlines than anyone could have predicted this season is Sandro Wagner. The SV Darmstadt 98 striker has bagged 13 goals and seems to be on a one-man mission to save the promoted side from an immediate return to the second tier!
Read: Darmstadt's game-changer Sandro Wagner
9:00 - WAKEY, WAKEY RISE AND SHINE!
Now that the midweek DFB Cup fixtures are out of the way it is time to get back to Bundesliga business. There are just four games left to go in the current campaign in Germany's top-flight, but nothing has been decided yet. Can the sides battling the drop steer further clear of the danger zone? Will any of the sides vying for a top-four finish be able to put some distance between themselves and their competitors? And can FC Bayern wrap up a record-breaking fourth consecutive Bundesliga title? ...