HAMBURG 1 WOLFSBURG 0

The rise of Hamburg from the relegation zone continues like Phoenix from the ashes. Iranian striker Medi Mahdivikia scored the lone goal in this contest at the hour mark in an average contest at the AOL Arena. Coach Huub Stevens' club has now catapulted themselves to tenth place after going seven games undefeated. Just six weeks ago, they were in the cellar.

BOCHUM 2 HANOVER 0

Theofanis Gekas took over sole possession as top scorer in the Bundesliga when he scored his 14th goal in the 35th minute to put Bochum up 1-0. Cameroon's Joel Epalle struck seven minutes later. With the victory, Bochum leaves the relegation zone.

On Saturday

BAYERN MUNICH 2 SCHALKE 04 0

Roy Makaay struck in the third minute to set Bayern up for a victory over the leaders that keeps them in the hunt for a third
successive title, six points off the pace in fourth place. Makaay blasted in to settle Bayern nerves after a good assist from fellow Dutchman Mark van Bommel. Schalke hardly had a chance to equalise and Bayern ensured victory when Hasan
Salihamidzic took a Lucio pass and managed to squeeze in a shot at the near post with 12 minutes to go.

ENERGIE COTTBUS 0 WERDER BREMEN 0

Werder Bremen missed the chance to take over at the top of the table as they were kept at bay by modest Cottbus. Miroslav Klose, going through a sticky patch, missed a couple of early chances but the visitors generally showed little
threat on a frustrating afternoon.

BORUSSIA MOENCHENGLADBACH 1 EINTRACHT FRANKFURT 1

Bottom club Moenchengladbach struck with a minute to go to prove they still have heart for the fight, even if a point does them little good. Sotiris Kyrgiakos had put Frankfurt ahead in the 11th minute, heading in from a corner, and it needed a couple of good saves from Kasey Keller to keep the home side in the game.
Kyrgiakos was sent off in the 86th minute and Gladbach took advantage to equalise with a Pocho Insua header three minutes
later. With seven games to play Gladbach remain in bottom place, four points away from safety.

MAINZ 1 BAYER LEVERKUSEN 3

Leverkusen's comfortable win keeps them well placed to grab
the final UEFA Cup qualification place. The opening goal came three minutes before the break when Bernd Schneider turned his marker and crossed for Sergej Barbarez to head in. Barbarez got his second just before the break and Schneider added the third with a free kick in the 52nd minute. Mohamed Zidan got a consolation for Mainz with 15 minutes to go.

VfB STUTTGART 3 ALEMANNIA AACHEN 1

Stuttgart finished strongly to grab a win that takes them
back within four points of the leaders. Stuttgart were ahead in the 29th minute via a Marco Streller header but they were rocked when Moses Sichone beat Timo Hildebrand with a looping header just before the hour mark. The home side looked short of ideas before Benjamin Lauth put them back ahead 15 minutes from time with his deft chip. Cacau made certain with six minutes to go.

NUREMBERG 2 HERTHA BERLIN 1

Nuremberg remain in with a shout of a UEFA Cup place, while
Hertha are in free fall. Tomas Galasek got the Nuremberg opener in the fourth minute and Saenko set up Marco Engelhardt to make it 2-0 with an hour gone. Christian Gimenez pulled one back but Nuremberg held on with few concerns to stay in sixth place within a point of
Leverkusen.

Played Friday:
ARMINIA BIELEFELD 1 BORUSSIA DORTMUND 0

Jonas Kamper struck 11 minutes from time to give Bielefeld
victory and send Dortmund down into the relegation zone.
Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller had made a series of fine
saves but it was his mistake that gave Bielefeld the win when he
let Kamper's 20-metre shot bounce in front of him and in.

Standings

Schalke 04 53
Werder Bremen 51
VfB Stuttgart 49
Bayern Munich 47
Bayer Leverkusen 42
Nuremberg 41
Hanover 35
Hertha Berlin 34
Alemannia Aachen 33
Hamburg 29

VfL Wolfsburg 32
Energie Cottbus 32
Eintr. Frankfurt 31
VfL Bochum 30

Mainz 05 30
Arminia Bielefeld 29
Dortmund 29
M'gladbach 25