Werder win leaves Bayern on brink of title

Werder Bremen beat Energie Cottbus 2-0 yesterday to strengthen their grip on second place in the Bundesliga and leave Bayern Munich with a little work to do to secure their 21st league title.

Werder's victory, via second-half goals from Markus Rosenberg and Hugo Almeida, leaves them nine points behind leaders Bayern with three games left to play.

Bayern have a big advantage in goal difference but to be mathematically sure of the title they need a point from their final four matches, starting away to VfL Wolfsburg this afternoon.

If they claim at least a draw from that game, they will be celebrating their 20th title since the Bundesliga era began in 1963 and their 21st of all time, including their first German championship success in 1932.

It would also be a third domestic double in four seasons, after their German Cup final victory over Borussia Dortmund in Berlin last month.

Third-placed Schalke 04 saw their hopes of claiming second place fade when they could manage no better than a 1-1 draw at home to Hanover 96.

Bayern lead the standings with 66 points, followed by Werder on 57 and Schalke on 55.

Hamburg SV and VfB Stuttgart stayed in the hunt for the third and final Champions League place after commanding league wins yester-day.

Hamburg won 3-1 away to Hansa Rostock, while outgoing champions Stuttgart strolled to a 4-1 victory at home to Eintracht Frankfurt.

They now have 51 points apiece in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Bayer Leverkusen can join them on that mark if they win away to Duisburg today.