BERLIN (AP) — Wolfsburg moved one step closer to relegation from the Bundesliga after losing 2-1 at home to Hamburger SV on Saturday, which ended in an on-field brawl between rival players.
Masked Wolfsburg fans threw smoke bombs onto the pitch, sending black smoke behind the goal to express their frustration at the team’s plight, which has languished in 17th place in the 18-team division without a win in eight games.
After the final whistle, substitutes and team officials from both teams rushed onto the field, but Wolfsburg’s midfielder Maximilian-Arnold appeared furious after being provoked by his Hamburg rival.
Referee Florian Exner’s whistle failed to stop the scuffle. He showed Wolfsburg’s reserve goalkeeper Marius Müller a red card.
Christian Eriksen converted the penalty for Wolfsburg, but the team conceded two goals, with Hamburg scoring both to put them nine points ahead of the home side and in a good position to survive their first season back in the top division.
This is likely to be Daniel Bauer’s last game as Wolfsburg manager Dieter Hecking and Felix Magath have touted the possibility of leading the Volkswagen-backed club to safety. Bauer’s successor will be the team’s third manager this season.
Before the game, Wolfsburg fans held up a banner stating that this was the team’s last chance and that the players were outclassed. Later, a banner was put up that read: “Opportunity wasted, support withdrawn.”
There are nine rounds remaining after this weekend.
champions league race
Alexander Plas scored twice and Hoffenheim defeated bottom Heidenheim 4-2 away, cementing their place in third place.
Bayer Leverkusen led 3-2 against Freiburg and was on course to move into fourth place, the bottom of the Champions League qualification spots, when qualifying rivals Stuttgart and Leipzig had both lost.
Matthias Ginter then scored a late goal for Freiburg to draw 3-3, Stuttgart drew 2-2 at Mainz and Yann Diomande led Leipzig to a 2-1 home victory over Augsburg.
Stuttgart remained in 4th place with 47 points, ahead of Leipzig on goal difference, while Leverkusen were in 6th place, 3 points behind.
Second place Borussia Dortmund were then playing in Cologne.
Bayern Munich beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-1 on Friday, building a 14-point lead.
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