Bremen held as Schalke slip

The Bundesliga title race looks set to go to the wire after leaders FC Schalke 04 slipped to a 2-0 defeat at FC Bayern München and second-placed Werder Bremen were held to a goalless draw at FC Energie Cottbus.

Crucial contest
Bayern, who resume their UEFA Champions League campaign against AC Milan this week, faced a must-win game with the leaders and made the perfect start with Roy Makaay giving them a fourth-minute lead. Hasan Salihamidžić then put the game beyond the visitors 12 minutes from time to move Ottmar Hitzfeld's side within six points of the leaders.

Stuttgart profit
That result gave Bremen the chance to draw level on points with Schalke at the summit but the opportunity passed them by as they were held at Energie. VfB Stuttgart took advantage of their rivals' slip-ups with a 3-1 success at home to TSV Alemannia Aachen which put them within four points of the top of the table. Marco Streller (29) put the home side in front only for Zambian international Moses Sichone to level. On-loan Hamburger SV striker Benjamin Lauth (75) restored the lead with his first goal for the club before Jeronimo Cacau sealed the points.

Leverkusen resurgent
Bayer 04 Leverkusen's resurgence continued with a 3-1 win at 1. FSV Mainz 05. Sergej Barbarez scored twice just before the interval and Bernd Schneider (53) extended their advantage before Mohammed Zidan (75) managed a consolation as Leverkusen continued their push for a return to the UEFA Cup next season.

Nürnberg pressure
1. FC Nürnberg remained a point behind them thanks to a 2-1 win against Hertha BSC Berlin. Tomáš Galásek gave them an early lead and Marco Engelhardt added a second before Christian Giménez set up a tense finish. Elsewhere, Sotirios Kyrgiakos gave Eintracht Frankfurt the edge at bottom club VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach, but he was sent off late on and the home side used their numerical advantage to level through Federico Insùa in the 89th minute.