Senegal international Papy Djilobodji kept Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Saturday with a dramatic 88th-minute goal to seal their 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt while Stuttgart were relegated. His winning goal for Bremen capped a turbulent week for centre-back Djilobodji, on loan from Chelsea, who is being investigated by state prosecutors for making a cut-throat gesture during a Bundesliga game in March.
Djilobodji stabbed home Bremen's crucial goal just before the final whistle at Werder's Weser Stadion to spark the host side's celebrations. The crucial three points catapulted Bremen up from 16th in the table to 13th and safety. Their last-gasp defeat means Frankfurt finish 16th and now face a two-legged relegation play-off against Nuremberg, who finish second in Germany's second division.
The first leg will be held in Frankfurt on Thursday with the return leg on May 23 in Nuremberg. Elsewhere VfB Stuttgart, the 2007 German league champions, were relegated, joining Hanover in the second division next season, after their 3-1 defeat at Wolfsburg. Stuttgart's Australia goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak pulled off a string of saves, but it was not enough to deny Wolfsburg. Andre Schuerrle boosted his chances of making Germany's Euro 2016 squad on Tuesday with two goals as Wolfsburg caught Stuttgart on the counter-attack. Stuttgart forward Daniel Didavi sparked a late fight back with a 78th-minute goal as his side finished 17th - second from bottom to be relegated alongside bottom side Hanover 96. After 40 years in Germany's top flight, Stuttgart will find themselves in the second tier for the first time since the 1976/77 season.
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