Germany round-up: Kaiserslautern climb away

1. FC Kaiserslautern moved further away from the 1. Bundesliga relegation zone with an important 1-0 win at home to SV Werder Bremen.

Worries eased
Kaiserlautern, who are more than €30 million in debt and need to preserve their top-flight status in order to be granted the operating licence needed to play professional football in Germany, moved seven points above the relegation zone with four league games left to play.

Klose call
A penalty from Germany international striker Miroslav Klose midway through the second half proved to be enough for Kaiserslautern, who play newly crowned champions FC Bayern München in the DFB-Pokal final in Berlin on 31 May.

Two-goal lead
In Sunday's other game, bottom club FC Energie Cottbus seemed to be on course to earn three crucial points as two goals from midfield player Marco Gebhardt gave them a 2-0 half-time lead away to DSC Arminia Bielefeld.

Second-half comeback
However, the home side rallied after the interval and two goals in three minutes, from midfield player Christoph Dabrowski and Poland striker Artur Wichniarek, earned a point. The result left Energie on the verge of relegation, nine points from safety with four matches left. Arminia moved up to 12th place.