Bremen edge closer in Germany

Köln relegated
Second-placed Bayern, who entertain Bremen next weekend, needed a 75th-minute goal from substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger to keep alive their slim title hopes and relegate Köln - three times the champions of Germany but 12 points from safety at the foot of the table. Bremen, chasing a fourth crown but their first since 1993, extended their unbeaten run to 22 games with a spectacular performance in a one-sided northern derby.

Leading scorer
Hamburg midfielder Sergej Barbarez gave Bremen the lead when he headed the ball into his own net after 16 minutes. French defender Valérien Ismaël and Croatia striker Ivan Klasnic added two more goals for the league leaders before the break, and Ailton, substitute Nelson Valdez and Viktor Skripnik, from the spot, completed the scoring in the second half.

Fight for second
Bayern, at risk of ending the season without a trophy, trailed Köln 1-0 after a goal from Lukas Podolski on 24 minutes. Peru striker Claudio Pizarro levelled in the 40th minute before Schweinsteiger's deflected strike gave the champions victory. Third-placed VfB Stuttgart, fighting with Bayern for second place and direct access to the UEFA Champions League, entertain VfL Bochum on Sunday.

Klimowicz winner
Eintracht Frankfurt's hopes of avoiding relegation took a blow as they lost 1-0 at mid-table VfL Wolfsburg, Diego Klimowicz scoring the only goal in front of 24,573 spectators at the VfL-Stadion. Frankfurt have 29 points, two fewer than TSV 1860 München who drew 1-1 at home to Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Paul Agostino struck after four minutes for 1860, only for Bernd Schneider to earn a point for Leverkusen and move them to within four points of Stuttgart.

Entertaining draw
A point clear of 1860 in 15th position are 1. FC Kaiserslautern after an entertaining 2-2 draw at home to VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach, who completed a comeback from two down when Igor Demo scored a minute into added time. Hannover 96, in 13th, are still in the relegation fight after losing 4-1 to SC Freiburg.

Huge crowd
Finally to the Westfalenstadion, where 83,000 fans watched BV Borussia Dortmund climb above Bochum into the UEFA Cup places with a 4-1 victory against FC Hansa Rostock. FC Schalke 04's match at home to Hertha BSC Berlin completes round 31 tomorrow.