Bayer 04 Leverkusen confirmed their qualification for the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League, after defeating TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 4-2. The result marks a fifth away victory in their last eight Bundesliga matches for the Pharmacists.With Freiburg and RB Leipzig’s participation in the DFB-Pokal final now ensuring seventh position becomes another avenue to European qualification, the hosts looked to seize the initiative, showcasing their attacking proficiencies as Georginio Rutter stung the palms of Lukáš Hrádecký.Hoping to continue their momentum after a victory over recently-crowned UEFA Europa League finalists Eintracht Frankfurt, the visitors struggled to impose themselves in the final third, as Oliver Baumann remained a spectator. After being thwarted in the opening five minutes, Rutter was not to be denied a second time, ghosting into the penalty area to administer a perfectly-executed strike into the bottom left-hand corner in the 22nd minute.After being starved of service in the opening half-hour, Patrik Schick showcased how merciless he can be in front of goal in the 34th minute, clinically slotting home Moussa Diaby’s cross for his 23rd league goal of the season. Not to be deterred, Hoffenheim ruthlessly went straight up to the other end to restore their advantage heading into halftime, as Baumgartner sent a commanding header headed past Hrádecký from close-range.Hoffenheim were left indebted to Baumann in the 57th minute, as their number one did well to parry Robert Andrich’s fearsome strike. However, Baumann was helpless in preventing Leverkusen’s equaliser in the 73rd minute when Diaby made the most of Schick’s exquisite through-ball to slot home. The irresistible Schick completed Die Werkself’s sensational second-half comeback three minutes later, confidently skipping around a beleaguered Baumann to send the travelling support into jubilant celebrations.Bayer Leverkusen tested their luck in the final 10 minutes as Jacob Bruun Larsen agonisingly hit the post, but ultimately ran out comfortable winners as substitute Lucas Alario converted his one-on-one effort past Baumann in the 91st minute, bringing an end to Hoffenheim’s aspirations of participating in Europe.Elsewhere, Union Berlin moved into sixth place after beating Freiburg 4-1 at the Europa-Park Stadion to extend their unbeaten league run to six matches. The win guarantees the team from the Germany capital a second consecutive top-seven Bundesliga finish.In a battle between two European hopefuls, Union drew first blood. Taiwo Awoniyi could only guide Sheraldo Becker’s cross onto the post, but Grischa Prömel was on hand to poke home on the goal line from the resulting rebound, registering his seventh goal of the season.The opener was met by a response from the hosts, who thought they had found the equaliser in the 23rd minute, but the celebrations were quashed when Lucas Höler’s effort was ruled out for a handball infringement. After surviving that scare, Union set about doubling their advantage, and they did just that around the half-hour mark. Becker once again played a pivotal role, with the 27-year-old delivering a menacing cross onto the head of Christopher Trimmel, who powered the ball past Mark Flekken. A miserable first half for Freiburg was compounded in the 41st minute, when Becker raced into the box to fire Union into a three-goal lead.Looking to claw their way back into the contest, Freiburg upped the intensity in the second half, with Höler whipping an effort over the crossbar before Nico Schlotterbeck tried his luck from range. After seeing his strike chalked off in the first period, Höler may have had a sense of déjà vu in the 59th minute, when he drilled home only for the assistant referee to raise his flag. However, this time, the goal was given following a VAR review.Unfortunately for the Brazilians from Breisgau, Höler’s effort didn’t spark a revival, and the visitors even extended their advantage when András Schäfer stroked the ball in at the near post in the 90th minute to wrap up a comfortable victory.The win ensures that Union end the day just a point behind Freiburg, who remain in fourth position despite the defeat. The hosts, though, are now vulnerable to RB Leipzig, who would move above Christian Streich’s side with either a draw or a win against Augsburg on Sunday.BUNDESLIGA – ROUND 33FridayBochum – Arminia Bielefeld 2-1 (1-1)/Polter 22, Bello 89 og – Nilsson 35/SaturdayKoln – Wolfsburg 0-1 (0-1)/Gerhaardt 43/Freiburg – Union Berlin 1-4 (0-3)/Holer 59 – Promel 11, Trimmel 30, Becker 41, Schafer 90/Greuther Furth – Dortmund 1-3 (0-1)/Ngankam 70 – Brandt 26, 72, Passlack 77/Hoffenheim – Leverkusen 2-4 (2-1)/Rutter 22, Baumgartner 36 – Schick 34, 76, DIaby 73, Alario 90+1/19:30: (2.40) Hertha (3.30) Mainz (3.00)Sunday16:30: (2.35) Eintr.Frankfurt (3.60) M’ gladbach (3.10)18:30: (1.28) Bayern (6.00) Stuttgart (9.50)20:30: (1.25) RB Leipzig (6.50) Augsburg (10.0)***odds are subject to change
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