Borussia Dortmund cruised to a 4-0 home victory over Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday, securing their place in next season's UEFA Champions League. The win puts Dortmund 10 points clear of fifth-placed Hoffenheim with only three matches remaining in the campaign.
Dominant Display from Dortmund
Maximilian Beier, Serhou Guirassy, Ramy Bensebaini, and Fabio Silva all found the net for the hosts, who have now scored three or more goals against Freiburg in eight of their last nine encounters. Earlier in the season, the sides played out a 1-1 draw.
"We've made sure of the Champions League, so of course now we want to lock in second spot," Beier told DAZN. "The sun is shining, we've qualified for the Champions League, it feels good."
Dortmund took the lead after just eight minutes when Bensebaini lofted a long pass over the midfield to an onrushing Beier, who collected the ball before guiding a shot across the face of goal. They doubled their advantage six minutes later when Guirassy turned in a lovely dipping pass from Julian Brandt.
Bensebaini headed in a Julian Ryerson corner just after the half-hour mark. Ryerson now has 13 assists this season, nine of which have come from corners. Freiburg's hopes of a comeback were dealt a blow when Lukas Kuebler's goal was disallowed by VAR for offside 10 minutes into the second half. Silva added a late fourth for only his second Bundesliga goal.
Freiburg's European Focus
Freiburg sit in eighth place but remain in contention in Europe, having reached the Europa League semifinals where they will face Braga.
Stuttgart's Top-Four Hopes Hit
Stuttgart suffered a setback in their quest for a Champions League return, being held to a 1-1 draw at home by Werder Bremen. Their top-four rivals Leipzig, Hoffenheim, and Bayer Leverkusen all won this weekend, increasing the pressure on the German Cup holders.
Bremen's Jens Stage continued his rich run of form, putting the visitors ahead early before Ermedin Demirovic leveled four minutes after coming on in the second half.
Stuttgart sit in fourth place with three games remaining. They are level on points with Hoffenheim but ahead on goal difference, while Leverkusen are lurking two points behind. Stuttgart still have to play Hoffenheim and Leverkusen, as well as Eintracht Frankfurt.
"In the end, that's just not enough. In the fight for the Champions League, especially at home, we need to secure every three points available to ensure everything remains in our own hands," Demirovic told DAZN. "Even though we were exhausted, we had set our sights higher. This really hurts."
Bremen's first point this season against a side currently in the top five left them six points clear of St. Pauli, who occupy the relegation play-off spot.
Stuttgart's exertions in Thursday's extra-time German Cup semifinal victory over Freiburg were evident early as Stage and Senne Lynen glided through the hosts' sluggish defense. Stage put Bremen in front after 18 minutes, hitting a low first-time shot into the bottom corner after a clever one-two with Yukinari Sugawara. The goal was Stage's 10th this season and his third in two games.
Bremen were the better side in the opening half, but the hosts wrestled back control after the break. Substitute Demirovic headed in a floating Bilal El Khannouss cross to cancel out Bremen's advantage just after the hour mark.
