Bayern bolster title bid

German champions FC Bayern München maintained their fading hopes of retaining the Bundesliga title with a 2-0 victory at 1. FC Kaiserslautern this afternoon.

Six-point lead
The result stepped up the pressure on league leaders SV Werder Bremen – who are at home to SC Freiburg on Sunday – although second-placed Bayern still trail by six points having played a game more than Bremen.

Second yellow
In front of close to 50,000 spectators, the first half was a close affair, but struggling Kaiserslautern's chances were undermined when midfield player Stefan Malz was sent off after collecting a second yellow card after 28 minutes.

Second-half strikes
Ottmar Hitzfeld's team made the numerical advantage tell in the second period, Dutch striker Roy Makaay opening the scoring two minutes after the restart before Paraguayan forward Roque Santa Cruz headed a clinching second 13 minutes from time.

Stuttgart scoring spree
VfB Stuttgart consolidated their position in third place with an emphatic 5-1 win at VfL Wolsburg. Heiko Gerber and Marco Streller gave the visitors a two-goal cushion midway through the first half and, although Martin Petrov halved the deficit almost immediately, Philipp Lahm restored the visitors' two-goal lead before half time. Further strikes from Kevin Kuranyi and Imre Szabics late in the second half confirmed the win.

Goalless draw
Fourth-placed Bayer 04 Leverkusen were held 0-0 at VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach, giving FC Schalke 04 the chance to apply some pressure thanks to a 4-1 win against Hamburger SV.

Schalke success
Tomasz Waldoch and Ebbe Sand scored for Schalke inside the first 29 minutes and, although Mehdi Mahdavikia pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after 35 minutes, strikes either side of half-time from Fabian Lamotte and Michael Delura sealed the home side's victory in front of 61,000 supporters.

Hansa held
BV Borussia Dortmund meet VfL Bochum 1848 in Sunday's other game, while FC Hansa Rostock were held 1-1 at struggling Hertha BSC Berlin.

Two-goal wins
Two goals in four minutes midway through the second half, from Dariusz Zuraw and Thomas Brdaric, gave Hannover 96 a 2-0 win at TSV 1860 München. Finally, an early Ingo Hertzsch own goal and Lukas Podolski's 35th-minute strike gave 1. FC Köln a 2-0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt.