The Hertha players can hardly believe it themselves. © ANSA / CLEMENS BILAN

Relegation sealed: second shock for Hertha BSC

Hertha BSC cannot prevent the seventh relegation in the club's history. Hoffenheim and Bremen make it perfect to stay in the league.

20 May 2023

From: dpa/tu

Hertha BSC is the first Bundesliga relegated team of the season. In the home game on the penultimate matchday against VfL Bochum, the Berliners were unable to score more than 1-1 (0-0) and can no longer achieve relegation mathematically. For Hertha it is the seventh relegation in the history of the Bundesliga.

In the Berlin Olympic Stadium, Frenchman Lucas Tousart scored (64th minute) to make it 1-0 for the hosts. But Bochum's equalizer in stoppage time by Keven Schlotterbeck (90+4) destroyed all of Hertha's hopes of staying in the league.

For Bochum, the point win is another small step towards staying in the league, especially since FC Schalke 04 couldn't get more than a 2-2 (1-1) draw in the home game against Eintracht Frankfurt. The Royal Blues can fall back into a relegation zone on Sunday. The prerequisite is a victory for VfB Stuttgart at FSV Mainz 05. Meanwhile, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim secured relegation with a 4:2 (2:1) against Union Berlin, as did newly promoted Werder Bremen thanks to a 1:1 (0:1) against 1. FC Cologne.

Schalke 04 is currently in the middle of a relegation race. © ANSA / ANNA SZILAGYI

Schalke got off to an outstanding start and took the lead after less than a minute through Simon Terodde, who had not been sent off before his last home game for the Royal Blues. A goalkeeping error by Schalke goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow allowed Daichi Kamada (21') to equalize for Frankfurt, and in the second half Tuta (59') scored to make it 2-1 for Eintracht. Substitute Sebastian Polter (85th) made it 2-2.

Hoffenheim and Bremen can celebrate

In Hoffenheim, Ihlas Bebou (23rd) and Andrej Kramaric (36th/penalty) scored for the hosts against Union Berlin. Danilho Doekhi (45th + 4) scored with a header just before half-time to score the goal for Union. Kramaric's second goal (90th) finally decided the game, even if Aissa Laidouni (90th + 5) shortened it again. Munas Dabbur (90th + 9) made the final score.

For Bremen, national striker Niclas Füllkrug returned to the starting line-up straight away against Cologne after missing five games due to calf problems. But the first goal was scored by Cologne's Steffen Tigges (36th), Romano Schmid (73rd) equalized 1-1 for Werder.

The results

Schalke 04 – Eintracht Frankfurt 2-2
Hertha BSC – VFL Bochum 1:1
Hoffenheim – Union Berlin 4:2
Werder Bremen – 1. FC Cologne 1:1

18.30
Bayern Munich – RB Leipzig

The table