Germany round-up: Renewed hope for Bayern

Spectacular goal 
The 1. Bundesliga leaders had a disastrous day at the BayArena as both of their rivals won to set up a dramatic finish to the German championship. Leverkusen were a goal down after just five minutes when the Hungarian Krisztian Lisztes scored from long range. But the UEFA Champions League semi-finalists were back on level terms on 32 minutes through Zé Roberto's header from a Yildiray Bastürk cross.

Penalty miss 
However, disaster struck seven minutes later. Leverkusen goalkeeper Hans-Jörg Butt missed a penalty and the home side were left to rue their mistakes as Brazilian striker Ailton collected a headed pass from Germany midfield player Torsten Frings to hit the winner for Bremen on the hour.

Hertha down to ten 
Defeat for Leverkusen was good news for Bayern and Dortmund. Bayern were comfortable 3-0 winners against Hertha BSC Berlin. The visitors did themselves no favours at the Olympiastadion when Dutch defender Dick van Burik was dismissed after 35 minutes.

Own goal boosts Bayern 
Yet it took Bayern a while to force home their one-man advantage and they did not break through until Hertha midfield player Michael Hartmann put the ball into his own net on 68 minutes. Giovane Elber added a second goal after 82 minutes and Claudio Pizarro struck to make it 3-0 a minute later.

Late penalty for Dortmund 
Bayern stay in third position, though, after second-placed Dortmund moved to within two points of Leverkusen thanks to Marcio Amoroso's late strike in a 2-1 success against 1. FC Köln. Czech international Tomáš Rosicky gave the home side a 21st-minute lead with a superb 20-metre strike, but Dirk Lottner levelled for relegation favourites Köln after 54 minutes and the game looked to be headed for a draw until Amoroso scored from the penalty spot in the 89th minute.

Relegation trouble 
FC Schalke 04 proved too strong for Nürnberg in Gelsenkirchen with goals from Jörg Böhme and Tomasz Waldoch cancelling out Jacek Krzynowek's effort for the visitors. Hansa fared even worse on their travels, going down 4-0 at VfL Wolfsburg. FC Energie Cottbus, meanwhile, look a little safer following their 1-1 home draw with TSV 1860 München. 1. FC Nürnberg and FC Hansa Rostock remain in relegation trouble after losing today.