German champions Wolfsburg rekindled their hopes of European soccer next season with a 4-0 home win against Hoffenheim on Sunday.
Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko scored a double which put him joint top of the Bundesliga scorers list as his team sit ninth in the table, 16 points behind leaders Bayern Munich with five games remaining.
Dzeko opened after 25 minutes, before Italian World Cup winner Andrea Barzagli claimed the hosts’ second six minutes into the second half with Bosnian midfielder Zvjezdan Misimovic netting the third on 74.
JOINT TOP
Dzeko put the game beyond doubt with his second a minute later as his 18th Bundesliga goal of the season put him joint top with Schalke’s Kevin Kuranyi and Bayer Leverkusen’s Stefan Kiessling.
Wolfsburg, who have won six of their past seven Bundesliga ties, could still qualify for the Europa League, as they trail just five points off the fifth spot in the league.
They are still in the running in this season’s Europa League as they host English side Fulham in the quarter-finals with a 2-1 deficit this week.
Hoffenheim, meanwhile, suffered their fifth defeat since January leaving them rooted in 11th with 34 points, as their coach Ralf Rangnick battles to save his job.
In Sunday’s late game, Hamburg could only muster a goalless draw at home against second-from-bottom Hanover, as they remain sixth in the table with just 14 points since the return from the winter break.
HEAD CASE
Hamburg’s Peruvian striker Paolo Guerrero is facing club sanctions after launching a bottle at the head of an angry supporter following the game.
According to television pictures Guerrero — who recently returned from a seven-month injury absence — was leaving the pitch when the fan targeted the player with insults, telling him to go back to his country.
Guerrero reacted by throwing a bottle at the supporter, striking him on the head. He was then ushered into the dressing room by one of his teammates.
It was not clear whether the bottle was plastic, or made of glass.
Hamburg president Bernd Hoffmann said 26-year-old Guerrero, was now facing certain sanctions.
“No matter what the supporter said, this is something that simply should not happen. It’s unacceptable, and we will make sure his is punished,” said Hoffmann.
The German league’s disciplinary federation could also become involved in the affair.
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