Makaay preserves Bayern bid

FC Bayern München moved to within four points of Bundesliga leaders SV Werder Bremen after two Roy Makaay goals helped them to a 3-1 win at Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

Boost for Bayern
The Dutch striker headed Bayern ahead six minutes before half-time, and just before the hour Michael Ballack's deflected shot doubled the lead. Bayern, who travel to Real Madrid CF on Wednesday for the second leg of a UEFA Champions League knockout tie that currently stands at
1-1, were three up eleven minutes from time through another Makaay header. Bernd Schneider scored Leverkusen's last-gasp consolation and his side stay fifth.

Sunday games
However, Willy Sagnol suffered a suspected left-arm fracture during the game, and the defender is likely to miss the trip to Madrid. Bremen will be able to stretch their lead back to seven points on Sunday when they visit TSV 1860 München, when VfL Wolfsburg welcome bottom side 1. FC Köln.

Stuttgart joy
VfB Stuttgart are within nine points of Bremen following their 2-0 win at BV Borussia Dortmund. Aleksandr Gleb scored the first six minutes in and eight minutes from time Horst Heldt's penalty confirmed victory for Stuttgart, who visit Chelsea FC on Tuesday looking to overturn a 1-0 deficit.

Bochum held
VfL Bochum 1848 now stand five points behind Stuttgart as they were held 1-1 by lowly Hertha BSC Berlin. Marcelinho gave the capital side a 20th-minute lead, but Frank Fahrenhorst saved Bochum's blushes in the 57th minute.

Strugglers rise
That point was not enough to stop Hertha slumping into the relegation zone after vital 1-0 victories for 1. FC Kaiserslautern and VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach. Kaiserslautern sent Eintracht Frankfurt into the bottom three with Hertha after a dramatic home win sealed by Stefan Malz in the third minute of added time.

Demo winner
Mönchengladbach's triumph came at home to Hannover 96, who fell to 15th following Igor Demo's 24th-minute goal. However, only one point now separates Hertha from Kaiserslautern four places higher.

Sand double
SC Freiburg are only five points off the drop zone themselves after a 3-0 defeat at FC Schalke 04. Ebbe Sand scored on 43 and 52 minutes to give his side the advantage and the victory was confirmed just after the hour by Edi Glieder. FC Hansa Rostock won 3-0 against Hamburger SV with goals from Gabriel Melkam, Magnus Arvidsson and Antonio di Salvo to take seventh place off their visitors.