Bayern prosper from stalemate

FC Bayern München go into the winter break six points clear at the German Bundesliga summit after their closest rivals Hamburger SV and Werder Bremen played out a 1-1 draw in a northern derby at the Weserstadion.

Mixed fortune
The visitors spent much of the match on the back foot as Bremen looked determined to claim second place. Johan Micoud could have handed the home team a deserved lead from the penalty spot six minutes before the interval but saw his effort saved by Sascha Kirschstein. The disappointment was fleeting, however, as the French playmaker made amends in stunning style on the cusp of half-time, rifling in a sumptuous free-kick.

Pivotal substitution
Hamburg started the second period with much more attacking purpose, but it was the 65th-minute introduction of strikers Naohiro Takahara and Mustafa Kucukovic that proved pivotal. Within two minutes the two combined to score the equaliser, Japanese international Takahara sauntering past Naldo on the right wing and crossing for 19-year-old Kucukovic to score from close range.

Hertha held
The strike proved enough to earn Thomas Doll's side a share of the spoils, meaning they remain second in the standings, two points clear of Bremen. FC Schalke 04 are fourth while Hertha BSC Berlin remain adrift in fifth after they were surprisingly held by 1. FC Nürnberg. But it could have been worse for the visitors, who trailed to Ivan Saenko's 55th-minute strike until defender Alexander Madlung headed in an equaliser four minutes before the final whistle.