Bayern and Werder in Euro hangovers

Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen suffered hangovers in the Bundesliga yesterday after their painful Champions League exits.

Leaders Bayern were held to a 0-0 draw at VfL Wolfsburg while second-placed Werder were thrashed 3-0 at home by Hertha Berlin.

Bayern, dispatched from European club soccer's premier event by a 4-1 defeat by Milan in midweek, at least avoided their second successive league setback after losing 2-1 at home to Hamburg SV last weekend.

"It was very difficult for the team after Wednesday's defeat and all the criticism that followed," said Bayern coach Felix Magath.

"We played pretty well but lacked confidence and were not dangerous enough in front of goal."

The champions extended their lead on Werder to nine points courtesy of a spectacular burst from Hertha.

The capital club, who badly needed a win after 13 competitive matches without victory, scored second-half goals by Kevin-Prince Boateng, Marcelinho and Yildiray Basturk.

Werder were beaten by Juventus on the away goals rule on Tuesday after a dreadful late blunder from goalkeeper Tim Wiese, who experienced another nightmare yesterday and was to blame for Hertha's first goal.

"We never found our way into the game," said Werder coach Thomas Schaaf.

"We were far too passive and never showed the aggression we would have needed."

Bremen stay level on points with third-placed Hamburg, who could move into second with just a draw at home against Kaiserslautern today.

Bayern started in promising fashion against Wolfsburg, Peru striker Paolo Guerrero hitting the back of the net after 57 seconds, only to be ruled offside. The visitors controlled the game but created few chances.

Midfielder Michael Ballack, playing his 100th Bundesliga game for Bayern, had a couple, notably when he fired over the bar on 31 minutes.

The Germany captain is expected to leave Bayern at the end of the season and could make his future known in the next few days.

There was plenty of action in Cologne, where Nuremberg won 4-3 courtesy of Slovakia midfielder Robert Vittek's second hat-trick in as many weeks after he scored all the goals in a 3-0 win over Duisburg.

Bottom club Cologne moved even nearer to the second division after their ninth consecutive home game without a win.