Five things we learned in the league

(Endowed Blogs.)
Tom Starke was Bayern Munich's hero on a rare appearance, RB Leipzig celebrate their direct Champions League place and Hoffenheim's coach Julian Nagelsmann let's off steam at a referee.

Here are five things we learned from the 32nd round of Bundesliga matches this weekend:

Starke's stunning stat

Bayern Munich's third-choice goalkeeper Tom Starke, 36, rescued the 2016/17 Bundesliga champions with a penalty save in Saturday's 1-0 win over Darmstadt, who are now relegated.

It was Starke's first Bundesliga appearance this season with first-choice Manuel Neuer and reserve Sven Ulreich, both injured for the last two games.

 Starke saved an 86th-minute penalty attempt by Hamit Altintop to spare Bayern's blushes.

"I decided on a corner, waited and had a bit of luck," said Starke.

"After that performance no one is getting me out of goal."

Starke has won 14 titles with Bayern -- yet has played just eight games in all competitions in five years for the Bavarian giants.

Nagelsmann takes aim at ref

Hoffenheim coach Julian Nagelsmann let rip after experienced referee Felix Brych missed a clear offside for Borussia Dortmund's opening goal in a 2-1 away defeat.

Dortmund's win saw them go third over Hoffenheim, who are two points behind in fourth.

play Hoffenheim's head coach Julian Nagelsmann reacts during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on May 6, 2017
(AFP)

Brych failed to spot Marco Reus was a metre offside for his fourth-minute goal from Gonzalo Castro's final pass.

Nagelsmann argued with fourth official Frank Willenborg on the sidelines for not making Brych aware, then vented in the press conference.

"I get a few euros on my account so that I improve my team," said Nagelsmann.

"And the fourth official gets a few euros, so that he can perhaps look where the ball is.

"It's not an argument to say 'I didn't see it' - that's his job.

"Being a ref is also a shit job. Nobody likes it."

The offside was not Brych's only error.

A handball by Reus went unpunished just before Hoffenheim's defender Pavel Kaderabek conceded a 14th-minute penalty for handling in the area, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang fired the spot-kick wide.

Burgers and champagne for Leipzig

Second-placed RB Leipzig's 4-1 win at Hertha Berlin means they are guaranteed a direct Champions League place next season.

It is the first time in nearly 20 years that a German club has secured a Champions League spot in their first season after promotion.

Davie Selke's two late goals off the bench sparked the celebrations and extra crates of Champagne and vodka were ordered for the journey home.

Burgers and nuggets for the whole squad were bought en route before a party at a swanky Leipzig nightclub.

"I don't want to see anyone at the training centre until Wednesday afternoon," said coach Ralph Hasenhuettl.

Leipzig host Bayern Munich in Saturday's top-of-the-table clash.

"We should be ready to compete again by then," grinned Hasenhuettl.

Bayer boss drowns sorrows

Bayer Leverkusen's sports director Rudi Voeller drank a schnapps with his Ingolstadt counterpart to ease the pain of Saturday's 1-1 away draw, admitting "it does you good after a game like that".

Since exiting the Champions League's Last 16 against Atletico Madrid in March, Leverkusen have just one win in eight league games.

The 57-year-old stomached only eight minutes of Saturday's draw in the stands before retreating to watch on television -- beating his previous record of 10 minutes in last weekend's 4-1 thrashing of Schalke.

"We were sat with our injured players and I can't get it all off my chest if I swear," explained Voeller.

"Before I get myself in trouble, I prefer to go down (to the changing rooms)."

'Win or die'

Bottom side Darmstadt's 1-0 defeat at Bayern confirmed their relegation with Ingolstadt, 17th, favourites to join them, but Hamburg, 16th, and Mainz, 15th, are still in trouble.

Hamburg's goalless draw with Mainz on Sunday left Ingolstadt four points behind the pair, who are locked on 34 points.

Ingolstadt must win their last two games -- at Freiburg and home to Schalke -- and hope their rivals lose.

"Against Freiburg, it's win or die now," admitted Ingolstadt's captain Marvin Matip, with the bottom two teams relegated automatically.