Werder Bremen Triumph 3-0 over Bayern

Jürgen Klinsmann's decision to nominate Jens Lehmann as Germany's world cup goalie is the talking point in Germany this weekend. Olli Kahn said he was extremely disappointed and Jürgen Klinsmannn called it the most difficult decision of his career as coach.

In the Bundesliga's top match of the afternoon between Werder Bremen and table-toppers Bayern Munich the question was how would Olli Kahn get through the most difficult afternoon in his career? Bayern chiefs were furious at the timing of Jürgen Klinsmann's decision with the Bremen match 24 hours later. With seven German internationals on show Jürgen Klinsmann watched the game from the stands

Werder Bremen 3 Bayern Munich 0

Encounters between Bayern and Bremen belong to the Bundesliga's classic matches. Bremen were without their injured captain Frank Baumann ...Torsten Frings too was out of the side due to injury. Bayern were at full strength but went behind to an own goal through Bastian Schweinsteiger who under pressure from Tim Borowski headed past Oliver Kahn into his own net.

Bayern fought back and Bremen played a dangerous waiting game. But it paid off. Daniel Jensen then put them 2 up and after a brilliant combination Tim Borowski completed Bayern's misery with Bremen's third. All in all Kahn had a good game and pulled off a class save in the first half to thwart Bremen's Paraguayan striker Nelson Valdez. Bayern need just 11 points to defend the title but they are stumbling with the finishing line in sight. There are five games left in the season and with Hamburg playing on Sunday is the Bundesliga title race open again?

Arminia Bielefeld 1 Eintracht Frankfurt 0

Frankfurt play some attractive football and are probably the best team among the relegation candidates but have won too few points for their endeavours. Bielefeld had their South African striker Sibusiso Zuma back. Heiko Westermann, Bielefelds defender put his side ahead with a fine header, his second this season. Frankfurts Benjamin Köhler was sent off minutes before the end. Next Tuesday incidentally both teams meet again. This time the game will be in Frankfurt for the semi-final of the German Cup.

Borussia Dortmund 1 Bayer Leverkusen 2

Dortmund's Ghanaian striker Matthew Amoah was in the starting line-up for the first time this season. Both teams in with a good chance to clinch a Uefa Cup spot.

Dortmund's international defender Christoph Metzelder just cannot regain fitness. He missed the game through injury and was replaced by Markus Brzenska. Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov put the guests from Leverkusen ahead...Markus Brzenska equalised but it was Leverkusen who took the 3 points thanks to Paul Freier's winner.

Cologne 3 Wolfsburg 0

After their sensational draw at Bayern Munich last week there is a faint glimmer of hope among Cologne's long-suffering supporters.

Wolfsburg are Cologne's bogey team and Cologne without a home win since September but they scored three goals in three minutes. Matthias Scherz, Patrick Helmes and an own goal by Hans Sarpei gave them a victory that moves them off the bottom of the Bundesliga. Cologne announced this week that regardless if they go down or not, they would not be parting company with their Swiss coach Hans-Peter Latour. Their revival may be a little too late.

Kaiserslautern 0 Hertha Berlin 2

This was the 50th Bundesliga encounter between the two clubs. Berlin were without Arne Friedrich ....their striker Marco Pantelic, on loan from Red Star Belgrade was keen to impress again and he certainly did when he put Hertha ahead....Brazilian Gilberto made it 2-0 and Kaiserslautern's problems continue.

Mainz 0 Hanover 0

Hanover's hopes of reaching a Uefa Cup spot have taken a severe dent after two consecutive defeats and a draw. Mainz without the injured Egyptian midfielder Mohammed Zidane, who has been inspirational for his side this season. However, Brazilian Da Silva was back in midfield to support Michael Thurk, Connor Casey and Bennie Auer up front. Mainz can thank their goalie Wetklo for the point.

Stuttgart 1 Nuremberg 0

Nuremberg coach Hans Meyer must be a favourite for the manager of the year award. He has performed miracles at Nuremberg. But they will not be happy with the referee. First he sent Brazilian defender Glauber off, then he disallowed Stefan Kiessling's goal and seconds later Danish striker Tomasson scored Stuttgart's winner in a poor game.

Sunday's matches:

Hamburg 2 Mönchengladbach 0

Hamburg have successfully turned the 2005-2006 campaign into a fight again by beating former Uefa Cup hopefuls Mönchengladbach 2-0 at home. Cameroon international Thimothee Atouba has provided a quiet, but solid presence, in midfield for coach Thomas Doll’s side, but it was his Dutch teammate, Rafael van der Vaart who put Hamburg in front by converting a penalty kick. The northern Germans couldn’t put the competition away for good until a goal in stoppage time at the end of the game by Japanese striker Naohiro Takahara. So, Hamburg now rests only four points behind leaders Bayern Munich.

Duisburg 1 Schalke 1

Schalke was trying to retain what slim hopes they had of capturing a Champions League spot. The team around chief Mirko Slomka luckily escaped from Duisburg with a 1-1 draw. Danish Dynamite was responsible for both goals in this contest. Schalke defender Christian Poulsen had bad luck when he tried to head a Duisburg corner kick away, only for the ball to land in his own net in the 39th minute. Soren Larsen salvaged a point for the Royal Blues, who were outplayed by the Zebras, with the equalizer in the 85th minute. All in all, too little for both sides. Schalke now lies six points behind third-place Bremen with five matches remaining. Duisburg are last place with 23 points.

STANDINGS

Bayern 66

Hamburg 62

Bremen 59

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Kaiserslautern 27

Cologne 23

Duisburg 23