Things we learned on matchday 30
April 16, 2016Bayern aren't champions just yet, Hannover refuse to go the meek way of Aston Villa and accept relegation, and several Bundesliga clubs don't seem all that keen on a Champions League place next season. What else have we learned as the season nears its climax?
Arturo Vidal is carrying Bayern
One midfielder in particular has shone even during Bayern Munich's comparatively difficult spell since learning of Pep Guardiola's summer departure. Having scored in both legs in the Champions League against Benfica, Arturo Vidal brought his A-game to the Allianz Arena on Saturday evening too. It's the Chilean's versatility, and especially his grit, that often fills a hole in Bayern's team of technicians.
Moments after the break, he turned and shot inches wide of Ralf Fährmann's post with his left foot. Shortly after that, he rose at the back post to head down a David Alaba cross, setting up Lewandowski's opening goal. Ten minutes on, Vidal scored a relatively simple tap-in - completing a move he had started back in the Bayern half.
A goal, an assist, 95 percent pass success rate, two tackles - he was a clear candidate for man of the match despite making way before the final whistle.
'Pizza' remains an eternal classic
From Chile, to Peru or from Bayern to Bremen: Claudio Pizarro's penalty made history on Saturday. Cameras caught him have a little nervous look at the ball, as he sent it home off the inside of the post - but the shot was perfectly placed as it turned out.
Netting his 102nd goal for the club, from 183 appearances, Pizarro is now Werder's all-time top-scorer. The journey has been long - with several clubs other than Bremen employing the striker along the way. Pizarro's first Werder goal opened the scoring in a 5-0 Bundesliga win over Kaiserslautern, 16 years, seven months and four days ago.
The 37-year-old has now scored in the last five games he's played. Bremen need him fit for the relegation fight.
Hoffenheim's Houdini act looks real
Under Julian Nagelsmann, Hoffenheim refuse to accept relegation. Saturday's comeback against Hertha leaves Hoffenheim unbeaten at home under their kid coach, with 20 points taken from a possible thirty by Nagelsmann to date. The worst team in all the Bundesliga in the first half of the season, Hoffenheim's form since the winter break is the fifth-best in the league.
Leverkusen set to finish a season on a high for once?
For Bayer Leverkusen, to misquote T.S. Eliot, April really is the cruelest month. The Werkself have an honored tradition of capitulating when the season's end nears, a legacy Roger Schmidt's threatening to overturn. Five consecutive wins, now third in the table, Leverkusen might be peaking at the right time - for once. It helps, of course, that Hertha, Gladbach, Wolfsburg and Schalke all seem intent on watching their European dreams go up in smoke.