Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-03-02 18:27:24
Saturday saw the Bundesliga race for Champions League spots heating up, with Borussia Dortmund securing a 2-0 victory against Union Berlin to maintain their fourth-place spot, while RB Leipzig defeated Bochum 4-1 to stay just one point behind. The competitive form of league leaders Bayer Leverkusen and the surprising Stuttgart have put pressure on the traditional Champions League contenders like Dortmund and Leipzig as they battle it out for fourth place.
Dortmund’s win was highlighted by Karim Adeyemi’s first goal of the season in the 41st minute, followed by a stoppage-time goal from Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen. The victory may provide some relief for under-fire manager Edin Terzic. Union Berlin, who had been unbeaten at home since early November, put up a tough fight, but Adeyemi’s long-range strike off the crossbar broke the deadlock. Adeyemi commented on the team’s performance, acknowledging that they started slow but gradually improved to secure the win.
Leipzig also had a strong showing, with a rapid-fire three-goal burst in the second half against Bochum. Maximilian Wittek’s opener was followed by an own goal by Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi and a long-range strike from Dani Olmo, before Breel Embolo added a goal to seal the win. The victory, just Leipzig’s third in nine games this year, was welcomed by the team as they prepare for a tough Champions League match against Real Madrid.
Despite their strong home record at Ruhr Stadium, Bochum fell short against Leipzig, with the loss marking their third defeat at home this season. Mainz and Borussia Moenchengladbach settled for a 1-1 draw, while Eintracht Frankfurt grabbed a 2-1 win at Heidenheim to solidify their sixth-place position in the standings. Augsburg dominated rock-bottom Darmstadt with a 6-0 victory, further increasing Darmstadt’s likelihood of relegation to the second division.
Looking ahead, Stuttgart had the chance to close the gap on second-place Bayern Munich with a win against Wolfsburg. Meanwhile, league leaders Bayer Leverkusen aimed to extend their lead to 10 points with a victory over Cologne on Sunday after Bayern’s draw against Freiburg on Friday.
Overall, the Bundesliga race for Champions League places is intensifying, with Dortmund, Leipzig, and other contenders vying for crucial points as the season progresses. Each match is crucial in determining which teams will secure their spots in the prestigious Champions League competition.
