Bundesliga Column - Round 33: Decisions at top, relegation battle on last day

As is usual in the German Bundesliga for the last couple of rounds all nine matches of Round 33 of the 2011/12 season were played simultaneously at 15.30 CET on Saturday. This is to ensure same chances for everyone fighting for the title, places in Europe and against relegation.

The matchday saw champions Borussia Dortmund visit relegated 1.Kaiserslautern in an inconsequential match which did have its moments as Dortmund won 5-2, while Schalke ensured third spot and direct qualification for the UEFA Champions League while Bayer 04 Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart qualified for the UEFA Europa League.

But of bigger interest was the relegation battle then before the match day four teams still could face relegation or the playoff spot. But with 17th place Hertha BSC Berlin trashed 4-0 by Schalke 04 and 16th placed FC Cologne losing 1-4 at SC Freiburg it meant that goalless draws for FC Augsburg in Mönchengladbach and Hamburger SV against Mainz was enough to ensure their survival.

But between Hertha Berlin and FC Cologne it will only be decided on next Saturday who goes down directly and which team will get another chance for survival in the relegation playoff spot. Currently Cologne are on 30 points, two ahead of Hertha Berlin. But both sides have tough final day encounters with Cologne set to face Bayern Munich, while Hertha Berlin take on Hoffenheim who are coached by former Hertha coach Markus Babbel who was fired late last year.


Round 33 Results

FC Schalke 04 4-0 Hertha BSC Berlin
Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1-0 Hannover 96
SC Freiburg 4-1 1.FC Köln
1.FC Kaiserslautern 2-5 Borussia Dortmund
1899 Hoffenheim 2-3 1.FC Nürnberg
VfL Wolfsburg 3-1 SV Werder Bremen
Hamburger SV 0-0 1.FSV Mainz 05
FC Bayern München 2-0 VfB Stuttgart
Borussia Mönchengladbach 0-0 FC Augsburg