Since relegation in 2009, Bielefeld can only dream of the Bundesliga. That could change soon. Because the Arminia leads the two-league table confidently. In contrast, two ascent favorites show nerves.
Dusseldorf (dpa) - Sovereign leaders, weak chasing pursuers - Arminia Bielefeld has come a big step closer to returning to the Bundesliga.
After blunders from all three pursuers VfB Stuttgart, Hamburger SV and 1. FC Heidenheim, the second division leader took advantage of the hour on matchday 24. Thanks to the 1-0 (0-0) over the penultimate contractions in Wiesbaden, the lead on relegation place three is already nine points. In front of 22,373 spectators in Bielefeld, goalscorer Fabian Klos (74th) ensured the hard-won success on Sunday.
"It was a relieving feeling," Matchwinner Klos commented on Sky Channel's 16th goal of the season. Not only the championship lead, but also the latest record with 16 out of 18 possible points in 2020 makes the Arminen dream of the eighth promotion to the upper house of football. But the 1-0 over Wiesbaden was harder than expected. "After yesterday's results, everyone assumed a clear victory for us. But today we were far too complicated," said Klos.
Unlike in Bielefeld, the resurgence project for the top favorites from Stuttgart and Hamburg is at risk. For the first time under the direction of the new coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, who celebrated a brilliant league debut with four wins and a draw, VfB had to accept a defeat at 0: 2 (0: 0) in Fürth. Despite all the annoyance about the poor exploitation of opportunities, the defeat of the three points worse Hamburg on Saturday gave consolation. "It is more pleasant than looking at the table with an HSV win," commented sports director Sven Mislintat. However, the appearance was not a good encouragement for the top duel on March 9 against Bielefeld.
At HSV, there is currently a lot to remind you of the unsuccessful fight for promotion last year. Once again, the team, which has been victorious for three games now, does not seem to be nervous enough in the decisive season phase. As in the derby defeat against St. Pauli (0: 2) a week earlier, the 0: 3 (0: 1) in Aue also left a lot to be desired. "We are in a sporting crisis. It is important to turn that around quickly," said Bernd Hoffmann. However, the chairman introduced himself to trainer Hecking and sporting director Jonas Boldt: "The sporting management has our backing. We are glad that we have an experienced trainer like Dieter Hecking."
It was only thanks to the support from the Darmstadt team that 1. FC Heidenheim did not catch up with the Hamburg team on points. The 0: 2 (0: 2) of fourth in the table at the Böllenfalltor rounded off the used day for the aspirants for promotion. Heidenheim slept through the early stages, when Serdar Dursun (11th) and Mathias Honsak (16th) scored for the lilies. The team of coach Dimitrios Grammozis, who was leaving at the end of the season, celebrated the fourth win in a row and has now been unbeaten for nine games.
In the two other Sunday games, VfL Bochum did not get past 4: 4 (2: 2) against SV Sandhausen despite Danny Blum's three goals (6./Foulelfmeter/9./49.). FC St. Pauli, on the other hand, is still on the upswing. A week after the derby victory over HSV a 3: 1 (2: 0) against VfL Osnabrück was successful. "It was very important that we added more after the derby," said defender Marvin Knoll. The matchday ends on Monday (8.30 p.m.) with the game Hannover 96 against Holstein Kiel.
Information about the matchday on Bundesliga.de