Bremen challenge fades as Schalke soar

Werder Bremen's fall from contention for the German title continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw away to DSC Arminia Bielefeld while FC Schalke 04 maintained their recent improvement with a 2-1 success at Hertha BSC Berlin.

Diego return
Bremen had suffered consecutive league defeats and exited the UEFA Cup, as they went into their game against an Arminia side who had been overwhelmed 8-1 in the reverse fixture in September, and they appeared on their way to another defeat when Artur Wichniarek gave the home side a 14th-minute lead. But midfielder Diego, back from a recent three-match suspension, stopped the rot with his eleventh goal of the season when he dispatched a penalty 20 minutes from time.

'Not satisfied'
However, Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf was not content after just taking a point. "We wanted to win here and climb the table but didn't so we're not satisfied," he said. "We lost two points." The hosts had more reason to be cheerful though as the draw edged them a point clear of the relegation zone and above FC Energie Cottbus, but they are still to win in eight league games since coach Michael Frontzeck arrived at the club.

Winning streak
Schalke's success moved them level with both Bremen and third-placed Bayer 04 Leverkusen on 44 points, nine adrift of leaders FC Bayern München, as the race for the UEFA Champions League places hots up. Mirko Slomka's side, who face FC Barcelona in the last eight of Europe's premier club competition next month, recorded their third straight league win thanks to goals in the first 23 minutes from Gerald Asamoah and Jermaine Jones although they endured a nervous finish after Sofian Chahed (67) pulled a goal back from the penalty spot.