Bremen continue title charge
Saturday, January 31, 2004
Article summary
SV Werder Bremen maintained their four-point lead on a day when VfB Stuttgart also won to move second.
Article body
SV Werder Bremen maintained their four-point lead at the top of the German Bundesliga by defeating Hertha BSC Berlin 4-0 on a day when FC Bayern München dropped off the pace with a draw.
Two for Ailton
Two goals from Brazilian Ailton, the league's top scorer, and one from Frenchman Johan Micoud had all but sealed Bremen's victory before half-time. A fourth on full time from Nelson Valdez compounded the misery for Hertha, who dropped to the bottom of the table after the first round of matches since the winter break.
'Clear signal'
"We were keen to start well and we certainly did that. It's a clear signal from the team that we want to stay on track," said Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf.
Off the bottom
Bayern slipped to third after being held 1-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt. Dutchman Roy Makaay gave the champions the lead after 39 seconds, but Peruvian striker Claudio Pizarro then gave away a penalty which Ervin Skela converted on the stroke of half-time. In the end, the home side were worthy of the point which saw them move above Hertha. Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said: "We'll have to live with this point. The championship has a long way to go."
Stuttgart second
VfB Stuttgart climbed above Bayern into second as Aleksandr Gleb and Kevin Kuranyi struck in the second half for a 2-0 victory against FC Hansa Rostock. Stuttgart, who had not won in four matches, are four points behind Bremen on 38 with Bayern a further two points back on 36.
Curling strike
VfL Bochum 1848 are fifth following a 1-0 victory over VfL Wolfsburg while TSV 1860 München climbed four places to tenth after two Benjamin Lauth goals gave them a 2-1 defeat of 1. FC Kaiserslautern. 1. FC Köln moved out of the bottom three with a 1-0 win against VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach, a curling left-footed strike from 18-year-old Lukas Podolski settling the match.
Sand the man
Bayer 04 Leverkusen travel to SC Freiburg on Sunday and Hannover 96 are at home to Hamburger SV. FC Schalke 04 won at BV Borussia Dortmund yesterday, Ebbe Sand scoring the only goal a minute from time.
