1. FC Köln narrowly missed a surprising break in the relegation battle of the women’s Bundesliga.
Daniel Weber’s team scored 1-1 (1-0) against Champions League candidate TSG Hoffenheim on Monday evening (April 15, 2024), but lost two more points due to a long lead and must continue to tremble.
Hoffenheim, on the other hand, missed a great opportunity to consolidate their third place in the race for their second participation in the premier class.
Krumbiegel with the late equalizer
Meike Meßmer gave Cologne the lead nine minutes before half-time with her first goal of the season. It was only eleven minutes before the end of the game that Paulina Krumbiegel managed to equalize for the Kraichgau team, without which the relegation of bottom team MSV Duisburg would have been sealed prematurely.
With just three points ahead of second-to-last 1. FC Nürnberg, Cologne still has to worry about staying in the league before the last four games. Hoffenheim is entering the final push for the third and final Champions League place with a cushion of just two points over Eintracht Frankfurt.
FC Bayern keeps Wolfsburg at a distance
The day before, the Bayern Munich footballers continued to storm towards the successful defense of their title. After initial difficulties, the front-runner won at bottom team MSV Duisburg 5-1 (0-1) and can plan the championship party with a further seven points lead over their pursuer VfL Wolfsburg.
18th matchday arrow right
When Duisburg took the lead through Taryn Ries (42nd), Bayern goalkeeper Maria Luisa Grohs cut a poor figure. But after the break, Munich hit back with Giulia Gwinn (49th), Georgia Stanway (52nd), Magdalena Eriksson (63rd) and the jokers Jovana Damnjanovic (87th) and Sydney Lohmann (89th). Wolfsburg had managed a 4-1 (3-0) win at SC Freiburg the day before.
VfL Wolfsburg beats Freiburg
However, VfL Wolfsburg has found its way back to success. The second-place team won 4-1 (3-0) at SC Freiburg on Saturday and is currently eight points ahead of TSG Hoffenheim in the race for the places for the Champions League qualification.
The DFB Cup winners are currently four points behind leaders Bayern Munich after losing the summit meeting (0:4). The defending champions will face the winless bottom team MSV Duisburg on Sunday. National player Lena Oberdorf (24th minute) and a brace from Ewa Pajor (27th/31st) made things clear in Breisgau even before the break.
The Austrian Eileen Campbell (59th) scored the next goal for the hosts before the former Freiburg player Riola Xhemaili (62nd) restored the old distance. With twelve goals this season, Pajor has extended her lead as the league’s top scorer ahead of Lea Schüller (FC Bayern/9).
Frankfurt loses in Leverkusen
The Eintracht Frankfurt footballers, on the other hand, have to worry more than ever about qualifying for the Champions League. Coach Niko Arnautis’ team lost 0-2 (0-1) in Leverkusen on Saturday.
Setback in the Champions League race: Eintracht footballers lose in Leverkusen arrow right
Essen clearly wins in Nuremberg
On Sunday, SGS Essen scored a clear 4-0 win at 1. FC Nürnberg. Annalena Rieke (7th), Lilli Purtscheller (45th/49th) and Jacqueline Meißner (54th) scored the goals for the guests, who are still sixth in the table. Nuremberg remains in danger of relegation as eleventh.
SGS Essen increases Nuremberg’s relegation worries arrow right
Draw between Werder and Leipzig
At the start of the 18th matchday, Werder Bremen and RB Leipzig drew 1-1 on Friday. In a game with little event, Barbara Brecht put RB in the lead (18th), Sophie Weidauer equalized after the break (56th). While the Bremen team remains securely in midfield, Leipzig could still be dragged into the relegation battle.
