Leipzig beats Freiburg to spice up Champions League possibilities

FREIBURG, Germany — A solo aim from Kevin Kampl lifted Leipzig to 1-0 over Freiburg on Saturday that boosted Leipzig’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League from the Bundesliga.

While Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund tussle for the league title, Leipzig gained an edge on Freiburg and Union Berlin in a three-way battle for the final two Champions League spots.

Union Berlin’s possibilities had been harm after dropping at Augsburg 1-0 on a second-half volley from Dion Beljo.

Union and Freiburg are aiming to qualify for Europe’s prime membership competitors for the primary time.

Kampl’s aim was right down to ability and a slice of luck. The Slovenian dribbled into the penalty space and regarded to play a cross which deflected off defender Manuel Gulde, leaving Kampl to gather the free ball and rating. It was the second time Leipzig beat Freiburg this week after a 5-1 rout within the German Cup semifinals on Tuesday.

RELEGATION FIGHTS

Last-placed Hertha Berlin raised hopes of a dramatic escape from relegation after beating fellow struggler Stuttgart 2-1. Hertha stayed final however reduce the hole to Sixteenth-placed Stuttgart, the primary workforce exterior the drop zone, to a few factors.

American coach Pellegrino Materazzo took a giant step nearer to his aim of saving Hoffenheim from relegation after a 3-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

Frankfurt coach Oliver Glasner was red-carded earlier than halftime after disputing a contentious penalty for Hoffenheim. Frankfurt had an opportunity to return again when Stanley Nsoki was despatched off for a harmful problem on U.S. participant Paxten Aaronson, however may handle solely a single aim from Mario Götze.

Bochum remained within the relegation zone in seventeenth after dropping to Borussia Moenchengladbach 2-0.