Bundesliga Matchday 22: European tune-up

Return of UEFA competition midweek meant the Bundesliga teams were gearing up for continued success.

Borussia Dortmund faced PSG in the Champions League Round of 16, but Friday they hosted and roasted high flying Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0 in the same fashion as other teams.

Coming off a disappointing week where they fell out of the DFB Pokal and lost to Leverkusen, BVB had one mind set, turn fortunes back in their favour by throttling Frankfurt. Conceding only one shot all match as a defence they were able to then attack with absolute certainty as to the outcome. Hakimi, Sancho, Haaland, Witsel, Piszczek, and Guerreiro all got in on the act as it turned more and more into a tune up before their major match (which they won, 2-1, on Tuesday).

RB Leipzig wanted to follow up their draw with Bayern with a win before facing Tottenham in the Champions League and they got it with a 3-0 win over hapless Werder Bremen.

After a 0-0 draw with Bayern to keep things on an even keel in the title race, this was a key match in ensuring progress in the Champions League. For Werder Bremen, this was yet another setback as the Green and White look more and more certain for the drop for the first time in over three decades.

Elsewhere in the Bundesliga

Bayern needed 12 minutes to get three goals to defeat FC Koln, 4-1, showing they are ready for their test in the Champions League against Chelsea.

Wolfsburg travelled to Hoffenheim earning a 3-2 win knowing full well that Malmo await in the Europa League with progress very much on the line.

While Augsburg and Freiburg played to a 1-1 draw, what was more important was the twofold Europa League chase and relegation survival of these two sides.

Hertha Berlin finally turned their fortunes around with a 2-1 victory that sees them place themselves in a secure nine points difference between them and relegation zone.

Bayer Leverkusen continued run of goals was maintained with a 3-2 win over Union Berlin to get them ready for FC Porto in the Europa League.

Gladbach took to their fury out on Rhine derby opposition Dusseldorf and kept pace with the title race and with a match in hand to be played against FC Koln.

If a tree falls in the forest does it make a sound? Mainz and Schalke played out a 0-0 draw which was of benefit to neither side.

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