Bundesliga Matchday 32 Roundup - Dortmund Seals Championship

With seven games  in the books, Borussia Dortmund has secured the Bundesliga championship with still two matchdays to go.  FC Bayern edged out a last minute victory against Werder Bremen, all but destroying Werder's chances for a Euroleague berth next season.  Kaiserslautern, already  relegated, defeated Berlin 2-1, making it the second candidate headed for relegation, short of a miracle.  Stuttgart with its draw against Koeln will qualify for the Euroleague but the chances for a Champions League spot are all but erased.  Mainz's draw with Wolfsburg will ensure that the team remains in the Bundesliga.  Nuernberg assured a spot in the Bundesliga next season by picking up a point against Hamburg.

Hamburg is not out of danger yet, while Freiburg can get the insurance with a win tomorrow against Hannover. Augsburg, which hosts Schalke tomorrow will want to pick up additional points to provide that special assurance.

While FC Bayern played with a second string team for almost 70 minutes, it became clear that Jupp Heynckes was not willing to concede a loss.  He substituted his regulars, Mario Gomez, Frank Ribery and Toni Kroos.  The plot worked and Munich scored two goals after the change.  On to Madrid for the record champion with a well rested team.

Schalke 04 traveled to Augsburg, for a match that was important for both teams.  Schalke could have increased its lead in third place over Gladbach, while had a chance to increase the three point buffer to the relegation zone. With a 1-1 draw, Schalke has a two point buffer on Gladbach, while Augsburg now has a four point buffer over 16th place Cologne.  Freiburg is all but certain to avoid relegation, while Hannover is still battling for a coveted Euro League spot.
Bundesliga Reaction to Dortmund's second consecutive championship


 Bundesliga Promotion for Season 2012/13

SpVgg Greuther Fuerth and Eintracht Frankfurt will be joining the Bundesliga next season.  The third spot, which has to be decided with a relegation playoff, will in all likelihood be fought for between Duesseldorf, St. Pauli and Paderborn, who have 60, 59 and 58 points respectively with two matchdays remaining.  Frankfurt has a game in hand and plays 2nd league taillight Allemania Aachen tomorrow. A win by more than one goal would put Frankfurt into the 2nd Liga lead.

20.04.2012, 20.30    FSV Mainz 05 -    VfL Wolfsburg                              0-0 
21.04.2012, 15.30    1. FC Nürnberg -    Hamburger SV                             1-1   
21.04.2012, 15.30    Hertha BSC Berlin -    1. FC Kaiserslautern               1-2   
21.04.2012, 15.30    1. FC Köln -    VfB Stuttgart                                       1-1   
21.04.2012, 15.30    1899 Hoffenheim -    Bayer Leverkusen                      0-1  
21.04.2012, 15.30    Werder Bremen -    Bayern München                          1-2   
21.04.2012, 18.30    Borussia Dortmund -    Bor. Mönchengladbach          2-0   
22.04.2012, 15.30    FC Augsburg -    Schalke 04                                        1-1   
22.04.2012, 17.30    Hannover 96 -    SC Freiburg                                       0-0

Bundesliga Table
                                                    GP       W    D    L        GF/A        Pts
1Borussia Dortmund                    32      23    6    3         71:23          75
2Bayern München                        32      21   4     7         71:21          67
3Schalke 04                                  32      18   4   10         67:42          58
4Borussia Mönchengladbach       32      16   8     8         46:24          56
5VfB Stuttgart                               32     14   8   10         57:42          50
6Bayer Leverkusen                       32      13   9     9         48:41          48
7Hannover 96                                32     11  12     9         39:43          45
8Hoffenheim                                 32     10  11   11          38:41          42
9Werder Bremen                           32     11    9   12          45:52          42
10Wolfsburg                                 32      12   5   15           42:56          41
111. FC Nürnberg                         32      11   6   15           34:43          39
12FSV Mainz 05                           32        9  11 12            47:48          38
13SC Freiburg                               32        9  10  13           41:56          37
14Hamburger SV                           32        8  11  13           35:56          35
15FC Augsburg                             32         7  13  12          35:49          34
161. FC Köln                                 32         8    6  18          37:66          30
17Hertha BSC Berlin                     32         6  10  16         38:59          28
181. FC Kaiserslautern                  32         4   11  17         21:47          23