Five-star Bayern victorious

FC Bayern München's hopes of defending the Bundesliga title are still alive after a thrilling 5-2 win against lowly VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Late clinchers
Trailing SV Werder Bremen by eleven points at the start of play, Bayern were 2-0 up at the break through Samuel Kuffour and Roque Santa Cruz. Roy Makaay increased the lead in the 49th minute with a penalty, but Vaclav Sverkos pulled one back within five minutes and a spot-kick of his own eleven minutes later made it close. However, Owen Hargreaves and Michael Ballack scored in the final two minutes to narrow the gap on Bremen, who visit third-placed VfB Stuttgart tomorrow.

Leverkusen victory
Bayer 04 Leverkusen consolidated fourth spot after a 4-1 win that keeps Hertha BSC Berlin in the bottom two. Marcelinho put the capital side ahead but Dimitar Berbatov and Franca scored before half-time and both repeated the trick after the break to keep Leverkusen in the race for UEFA Champions League football next season.

Schalke's derby delight
However, VfL Bochum 1848 lost ground as they were defeated 2-1 by Ruhr rivals FC Schalke 04. Martin Meichelbeck put Bochum ahead in the 24th minute, but in the final 13 minutes Thomas Kläsener and Michael Delura scored for the visitors to take them up to sixth.

Dortmund slip
Dropping behind Schalke are BV Borussia Dortmund, help 1-1 at struggling Hannover 96. Torsten Frings' 13th-minute goal put the visitors ahead only for a Thomas Christiansen penalty seven minutes from time to level matters.

Eintracht downed
Hannover are still in the relegation zone, but equal on points with Eintracht Frankfurt, defeated 3-0 at home against TSV 1860 München. Andreas Görlitz and Matthias Lehmann's early goals were consolidated by an effort from Paul Agostino on the hour.

Köln misery continues
1. FC Köln remain nine points from safety with eight games left following their 3-0 defeat at SC Freiburg, Alexander Iashvili, Sascha Riether and Roda Antar punishing the bottom team. FC Hansa Rostock moved away from danger by beating VfL Wolfsburg 3-1 at home, while 1. FC Kaiserslautern will also look to climb the table when they visit Hamburger SV tomorrow.