Klose and Klasnic double up

By Mark Bennett

Miroslav Klose and Ivan Klasnic both scored twice as Werder Bremen warmed up for Wednesday's UEFA Champions league third qualifying round tie against FC Basel 1893 by comprehensively defeating DSC Arminia Bielefeld 5-2 on Saturday.

Thrilling start
Bremen will take on the Swiss champions with confidence soaring after a thrilling match at the Weserstadion. German international Klose struck inside the opening 60 seconds, but Bielefeld drew level through Nebojsa Krupnikovic eleven minutes later. Seven minutes after that Klasnic opened his account only to see Sibusiso Zuma equalise on the half-hour.

Bremen impress
Bremen, however, refused to settle for anything less than all three points and captain Frank Baumann put them in front for good before the break. The score stayed tight for much of the second half until Klose and Klasnic added further goals in the last eight minutes.

Hamburg win
Bremen’s northern rivals Hamburger SV were also in excellent form, starting their Bundesliga campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win against 1. FC Nürnberg. It was the perfect preparation for their UEFA Intertoto Cup final first-leg tie with Valencia CF on Tuesday.

Barbarez double
Emile Mpenza opened the scoring only three minutes in and Sergej Barbarez doubled the advantage from the penalty spot after David Jarolim had been brought down in the area just before half-time. Barbarez then put the match out of the visiting side’s reach on the hour by shooting past Rafael Schäfer.

Cacau goal
Giovanni Trapattoni’s VfB Stuttgart were held to a 1-1 draw at MSV Duisburg on the Italian coach’s return to the Bundesliga. Cacau (later sent off) gave the UEFA Cup participants the lead on five minutes but former Stuttgart striker Abdelaziz Ahanfouf equalised for the promoted side on 31 minutes.

Schlicke sinks Mainz
In Saturday’s other matches, a Björn Schlicke penalty three minutes from time ensured 1. FC Köln marked their Bundesliga return with victory against 1. FSV Mainz 05. VfL Wolfsburg shared four goals with BV Borussia Dortmund and Hannover 96 recovered from a two-goal deficit to draw against Hertha BSC Berlin.

Bayern win
Champions FC Bayern München defeated VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-0 on Friday evening. FC Schalke 04 are at home to 1. FC Kaiserslautern on Sunday when Eintracht Frankfurt welcome Bayer 04 Leverkusen.