Klaas-Jan Huntelaar’s 25th goal of the season salvaged a 1-1 draw for Schalke 04 at relegation-threatened Augsburg on Sunday, while SC Freiburg ensured they will stay in the Bundesliga with a 0-0 draw at Hannover 96.
Huntelaar’s 38th-minute strike canceled out Augsburg’s opener in the sixth minute, when defender Sebastian Langkamp crashed his header in off the crossbar from a corner.
“We didn’t start well. We fell asleep and they scored,” Schalke captain Benedikt Hoewedes said. “We have to be happy with the point.”
Schalke looked out of sorts and they had goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall to thank for denying Axel Bellinghausen early on.
Huntelaar scored with his first shot on goal when he controlled a long ball, before firing an unstoppable effort into the far corner. It was the Dutchman’s 44th goal in all competitions this season.
The home side pushed hard for a winning goal, with Marcel Ndjeng’s header flying agonizingly wide after an hour’s play, before Matthias Ostrzolek should have done better when he fired over.
Augsburg are four points above the relegation zone with two games remaining, while Freiburg are safe after stretching their unbeaten run to nine matches in the late game.
“That was an outstanding performance from everyone and there’s no need to mention that [Freiburg coach] Christian Streich was the most important piece of the puzzle,” Freiburg sporting director Dirk Dufner said.
It is a remarkable achievement for former assistant coach Streich, who took over at the end of December with Freiburg in last place and five points from safety.
“I’m just a small part of it. We all worked together,” Streich said. “I want to sincerely thank all those who helped me.”
Hannover, meanwhile, preserved their unbeaten home run and they remain in the last Europa League qualification place, four points ahead of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and VfL Wolfsburg.
Two well-drilled sides canceled each other out in the first half, before Hannover defender Emanuel Pogatetz blocked Anton Putsila’s effort after the break.
Freiburg goalkeeper Oliver Baumann then did well to stop Didier Ya Konan at the other end.
Pogatetz — with blood streaming down his face — headed narrowly wide from a corner with a quarter of an hour remaining, but neither side could deliver the knockout blow.
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Jack Hinshelwood on Monday sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory against Liverpool to leave the English Premier League champions without a win since clinching the title. Arne Slot’s side took the lead through Harvey Elliott’s early opener before Yasin Ayari equalized at the American Express Stadium. Dominik Szoboszlai restored Liverpool’s advantage just before halftime, but Brighton staged a late fightback as Kaoru Mitoma leveled before Hinshelwood came off the bench to net with his first touch. Liverpool have taken just one point from their three matches following the title-clinching rout of Tottenham Hotspur on April 27. The Reds have lost at
Logan O’Hoppe, Taylor Ward and Matthew Lugo homered, and the Los Angeles Angels spoiled Clayton Kershaw’s season debut, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-9 on Saturday night to take the first two games of the three-game series. Kershaw allowed three runs and threw 38 pitches in the first inning. The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner lasted four innings, giving up five runs on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Shoulder, toe and knee injuries limited Kershaw to seven games last season, and his 2025 debut was delayed as he recovered from multiple offseason surgeries. O’Hoppe had two hits with
RSS