Former champions VfL Wolfsburg gave themselves a Bundesliga lifeline on Sunday with a 4-1 win over fellow relegation candidates Cologne.
Despite the three points, 2009 champions Wolfsburg remain third from bottom, but are now just two points from safety with three games left before the season finishes on May 14.
“The relief is huge,” Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath said.
Photo: EPA
Wolfsburg face mid-table teams Werder Bremen, Kaiserslautern and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in the next three weeks.
“I hope that this result gives us security for the remaining games,” Magath said.
First-half goals from Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic put Wolves 2-0 up, before striker Sebastian Freis pulled a goal back for Cologne just before halftime.
However, Wolfsburg’s former Germany under-21 midfielder Ashkan Dejagah made sure of the three points with a 58th-minute strike, before adding his second two minutes from time.
The defeat pulls Cologne back toward the relegation spots.
In the Bundesliga, the bottom two teams are relegated automatically, while the team third from bottom faces a playoff against the side third from top of the second division.
In the only other match on Sunday, Nuremberg and FSV Mainz 05 shared the points in a goalless draw.
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