Bremen clinch third with Hamburg draw

(GSM) – Werder Bremen closed the 2009/10 Bundesliga season on a high note on Saturday as they secured third place with a 1-1 draw against Hamburg.

The draw, combined with Bayer Leverkusen’s draw at Borussia Mönchengladbach, ensured that Bremen will be in Champions League qualifying next season, and it guarantees sixth-placed Stuttgart a berth in the Europa League.

The match was scoreless until the 58th minute when Bremen’s Clemens Fritz slid in a pass for Claudio Pizarro to hammer past Frank Rost in the Hamburg goal.

But Hamburg weren’t to be denied eight minutes from time when Ruud van Nistelrooy claimed a ball from Zé Roberto before slotting in the equalizer.

Hamburg finished seventh and out of the European places.