The Malta Independent 1 September 2026, Tuesday
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German Bundesliga: Werder Bremen beats Frankfurt to leave relegation fears behind

Sunday, 1 April 2018, 22:05 Last update: about 9 years ago

Werder Bremen defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 at home to all but end the club's Bundesliga relegation worries on Sunday.

Bremen, which had been in the relegation zone until the 20th round, is now 11 points clear with six games remaining.

A mistake from Frankfurt's Lukas Hradecky, one of the best goalkeepers in the league, gifted the home side the winner with just over 10 minutes remaining. Hradecky misjudged David Abraham's attempted clearance of Zlatko Junuzovic's cross and allowed the ball to slip through his fingers.

Junuzovic, Bremen's captain, had opened the scoring before the half-hour mark after Thomas Delaney whipped the ball in.

Frankfurt refused to buckle and deservedly equalized early in the second half with a scissor kick from Luka Jovic after Kevin-Prince Boateng set him up with his heel.

But Hradecky's lapse cost the side a place among the Champions League-qualifying positions as Frankfurt dropped from fourth to sixth. A draw would have been enough to keep Leipzig at bay on goal difference.

Relegation-threatened Mainz was hosting Borussia Moenchengladbach later Sunday.


Honours even as Mainz and Borussia Mönchengladbach play out scoreless draw

Mainz was unable to free itself from the relegation playoff spot after being held 0-0 at home by midtable Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Mainz came closest to scoring midway through the second half when Yann Sommer deflected Alexander Hack's header from a corner onto the post. The ball rebounded onto the line before the grateful 'Gladbach 'keeper could gather it.

Mainz remained third from bottom and is behind Wolfsburg on goal difference with six rounds remaining.

'Gladbach's hopes of European football took a blow as the side stayed ninth, eight points behind Frankfurt in the last qualification place for the Europa League.

Bayern Munich, which routed Borussia Dortmund 6-0 on Saturday, can secure the league title with a win at Bavarian rival Augsburg next weekend.

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