Bremen steal a march on European rivals

There were contrasting Bundesliga results for Hamburger SV and Werder Bremen ahead of their UEFA Cup semi-final meeting on Thursday, while third-placed FC Bayern München were beaten 1-0 at home by FC Schalke 04.

Bremen response
Bremen − who host Hamburg in the first leg − recovered from two goals down to defeat VfL Bochum 1848 3-2 at home. The hosts rallied after Stanislav Sesták's first-half double put lowly Bochum in control and drew level through Hugo Almeida (54) and Naldo (70) before Diego's winner after 79 minutes. Hamburg, meanwhile, lost 2-0 at BV Borussia Dortmund, Sebastian Kehl (33) and Alexander Frei's added-time penalty doing the damage, meaning they and Bayern remain behind a point adrift of second-placed Hertha BSC Berlin, who won 1-0 at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Friday.

Two dismissals
Victories for Hamburg and Bayern would have lifted them level on points with leaders VfL Wolfsburg, who play strugglers FC Energie Cottbus on Sunday. Bayern, though, were condemned to defeat by Halil Altıntop's 21st-minute goal at the Fußball Arena München, with both sides finishing a man light following the dismissals of Jermaine Jones (70) and Franck Ribéry (76).

Karlsruhe win
VfB Stuttgart join the pair on 54 points after their fifth successive league win, 2-0 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt. Elsewhere, bottom side Karlsruher SC won 1-0 at Bayer 04 Leverkusen and are now just two points adrift of safety, while Leon Andreasen scored twice as Hannover 96 beat 1. FC Köln 2-1. Third-bottom VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach host the side immediately above them, DSC Arminia Bielefeld, on Sunday.