Germany round-up: Bayern secure league title

FC Bayern München secured their 18th league title with a 2-0 away win at VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday.

Four games left
With four 1. Bundesliga games remaining, Bayern moved 13 points ahead of VfB Stuttgart, who were held to a 1-1 draw at home by FC Hansa Rostock, while champions BV Borussia Dortmund, needing a victory to keep their slender hopes of retaining their title alive, could only manage a 0-0 draw at TSV 1860 München.

Elber breakthrough
Bayern initially struggled to break down a determined Wolfsburg defence, but Brazilian striker Giovane Elber finally broke the deadlock a minute before the hour mark, and a second from Peruvian forward Claudio Pizarro seven minutes from time sealed the win and the title.

Domestic dominance
Having been unexpectedly eliminated from the UEFA Champions League in the first group stage, Bayern have dominated German domestic football this season, and have completed the first leg of a league and cup double. Bayern face 1.FC Kaiserslautern in the DFB-Pokal final in Berlin on May 31.

Stuttgart slip
Stuttgart seemed to be on course to postpone Bayern's celebrations for at least another week as Silvio Meissner opened the scoring after 27 minutes, but Hansa drew level 14 minutes into the second half through Delano Hill and held on for a point that moved them further away from the relegation zone.

Dortmund denied
Meanwhile, Dortmund were unable to break down a determined 1860 München defence and remained in third place, a point behind Stuttgart.

Hertha closing in
Hertha BSC Berlin moved to within a point of Dortmund with a 2-0 home win against Hannover 96. Brazilian forward Luizão gave Hertha the perfect start, opening the scoring after ten minutes, before a penalty a minute before half-time from his fellow countryman Marcelinho completed the scoring.

Four for Hamburg
Hamburger SV maintained their own challenge for a European place next season with a resounding 4-0 success at home to second-bottom side 1. FC Nürnberg. Two goals in eight minutes just before half-time, from defender Milan Fukal and Argentinian striker Bernardo Romeo put Hamburg in command, and second-half strikes from Mehdi Mahdavikia and Naohiro Takahara confirmed an emphatic victory.

Schalke setback
FC Shalke's challenge for a European place was undermined by a 2-1 home defeat by VfL Bochum 1848, who took the lead midway through the first half through Thomas Christiansen. Schalke quickly equalised through Gustavo Varela, but a Delron Buckley goal two minutes from time gave Bochum the points.

Late equaliser
At the other end of the table, a last-minute Morten Skoubo goal gave VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach a crucial 2-2 draw at home to fellow strugglers Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Igor Demo gave Mönchengladbach a sixth-minute lead, before goals from Daniel Bierofka and Dimitar Berbatov turned the match on its head and seemed to have earned Leverkusen three vital points, but Skoubo's strike left them firmly in the relegation zone.

Sunday action
On Sunday, bottom side FC Energie Cottbus visit DSC Arminia Bielefeld, while Kaiserslautern are at home to SV Werder Bremen.