Sunday's Bundesliga action delivered high drama as both Mainz and Borussia Mönchengladbach secured their top-flight survival with crucial victories. For Mainz, the win was particularly sweet—not only did it seal an 18th consecutive season in the Bundesliga, but it also deepened the relegation woes of St. Pauli.

The visitors struck early when Phillip Tietz capitalized on a defensive error from St. Pauli, finishing smartly after a fine assist from Sheraldo Becker. Left wingback Phillip Mwene doubled the lead before halftime with a close-range finish, silencing the Millerntor crowd. Although Abdoulie Ceesay pulled one back for the hosts, it was too little, too late for the Hamburg-based side.

This victory marks a remarkable turnaround for Mainz, who sat at the bottom of the table when Urs Fischer took over in December. The former Union Berlin boss has orchestrated a stunning resurgence, lifting the club to 10th place with just two matches remaining. "I think we've played a super second half of the season," beamed man-of-the-match Tietz. "We will celebrate tonight."

Meanwhile, Borussia Mönchengladbach secured their own survival with a gritty 1-0 home win over second-placed Borussia Dortmund, who had already booked their Champions League spot. The decisive moment came in the 88th minute when Haris Tabaković found the net. His goal was initially ruled out but was overturned after a video review, sparking jubilant scenes at Borussia-Park.

Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was left frustrated by the result. "I'm not happy with how the match went. When we have a day like this, where things aren't going our way, then we have to settle for a 0-0 draw—and that's that. It's a shame, it's frustrating that we didn't manage to get the job done," he told broadcaster DAZN.

In the late game, Freiburg and Wolfsburg played out a 1-1 draw. Konstantinos Koulierakis gave Wolfsburg the lead in the 55th minute, but Philipp Lienhart's header in the 75th earned the hosts a point.

For St. Pauli, the picture looks bleak. Winless in eight matches and six points from safety with an inferior goal difference, their survival hopes are hanging by a thread. "We deserved to lose," admitted defender Hauke Wahl. "Phillip Tietz made the difference for Mainz."

St. Pauli face a daunting trip to RB Leipzig next Saturday before finishing the season at home against fellow strugglers Wolfsburg—a match that could well decide their fate. With the Bundesliga season winding down, every point matters, and the drama is far from over.