Union Berlin avoid relegation with last-minute win, Koln go down
Find the biggest stories from across the soccer world by visiting our Top Soccer News section and subscribing to push notifications.
Union Berlin scored in stoppage time against Freiburg to win 2-1 and beat the drop on Saturday, leapfrogging Bochum, who will play a two-legged relegation playoff against second-division Fortuna Dusseldorf after losing 4-1 at Werder Bremen.
Leverkusen's rivals Cologne were also relegated after a 4-1 loss at Heidenheim.
Union - who were playing Champions League against the likes of Real Madrid as recently as December - were locked 1-1 at home to Freiburg in stoppage time and headed for a relegation playoff clash with Dusseldorf.
Union had been reduced to 10 men when Michael Gspurning was red carded with four minutes remaining but won a penalty just into stoppage time.
Kevin Volland missed the spotkick but Janik Haberer was there to turn in the rebound and save Berlin.
Bochum, who looked to have secured top-division football with a 4-3 win at Union Berlin two weeks ago, will now need to beat Dusseldorf in a home-and-away playoff.
The loser of that playoff will play second-division football with Cologne and Darmstadt, who were relegated earlier in the season.
HEADLINES
- Marner ready for 'peaceful' Vegas chapter after 'bittersweet' Leafs exit
- Parsons traded from Cowboys to Packers, signs reported 4-year, $188M deal
- Jerry Jones: Parsons trade in 'best interest' of Cowboys' future
- Trade grades: Evaluating the Micah Parsons blockbuster
- Schwarber's 4-HR game propels Phillies over Braves