WOLFSBURG, Germany (AP) — Interim Wolfsburg coach Daniel Bauer saw his team take the lead just 18 seconds into the match on Friday. However, Hoffenheim managed to come from behind twice to secure a 2-2 draw, earning a valuable point that all but guarantees their survival in the top-flight league. The draw moves Hoffenheim into 14th place in the 18-team Bundesliga with 32 points.
Heidenheim, currently in the relegation-playoff spot in 17th place, has 26 points. They could potentially catch up to Hoffenheim by winning their remaining two games while Hoffenheim loses their final match, but Heidenheim’s inferior goal difference poses a challenge. St. Pauli sits in 15th place with 31 points, and Holstein Kiel is in 17th place with 25 points. Both teams have two games left to play in the season.
Bochum, at the bottom of the standings, has already been relegated. Hoffenheim overcame an early own-goal, the fastest in Wolfsburg’s Bundesliga history, as Leo Østigård inadvertently deflected Mohamed Amoura’s shot into his own net. Despite this setback, Hoffenheim fought back with Pavel Kadeřábek scoring a fantastic volley in the 34th minute. Both teams managed to find the back of the net again towards the end of the game, with Jonas Wind putting Wolfsburg in the lead in the 82nd minute, only for Marius Bülter to equalize three minutes later.
Wolfsburg’s winless streak now stands at nine games, and they currently sit in 12th place with 40 points.
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