Bremen, Stuttgart boost European hopes

Werder Bremen capped a fine week by winning 2-1 at 10-man Mainz on Saturday to move to within a point of the European qualifying positions in the Bundesliga table.

Bremen booked their place in the last 16 of the Europa League with a 4-1 win at home to Dutch side FC Twente on Thursday and they were given an early advantage at Mainz when the hosts’ midfielder Florian Heller was shown a straight red card in the 14th minute after clashing with Aaron Hunt.

Germany midfielder Tim Borowski gave the visitors the lead in the 31st minute with a free-kick that caught Mainz goalkeeper Heinz Muller on his heels.

Mainz drew level shortly before half-time when Aristide Bance scored with a thunderous 25-yard effort for his sixth goal of the season but substitute Sebastian Broedl restored Bremen’s lead with a left-footed strike five minutes after the break.

Bremen are now a point shy of fifth-placed Borussia Dortmund, who occupy the last qualifying berth for next season’s Europa League.

Stuttgart maintained their fine recent form by coming from behind to win 2-1 at home to over-achieving Eintracht Frankfurt.

Christian Gross’s team drew 1-1 at home to Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday and they had Brazil-born German international striker Cacau to thank again on Saturday after going behind to a Benjamin Koehler effort in the 39th minute.

Cacau scored four goals in the 5-1 demolition of Cologne last weekend and was also on target against Barcelona.

He took his tally to seven in three matches with a quick-fire double shortly before the break to earn Stuttgart a win that sends them up to eighth.

Bottom club Hertha Berlin’s bid to pull away from the foot of the table received a blow when they were beaten 2-0 at home by Hoffenheim.

Borussia Moenchengladbach drew 1-1 at home to Freiburg, while Nuremberg climbed one place to third-bottom after securing a goalless draw at Bochum.

Leaders Bayer Leverkusen, ahead of Bayern Munich on goal difference at the top of the table, can open up a three-point lead over the Bavarian giants with victory at home to struggling Cologne in Saturday’s late game.

Bayern on Sunday host fourth-placed Hamburg, who were the last team to beat Louis van Gaal’s side in the league back in late September.

In Friday night’s game, Schalke needed an 83rd-minute winner from Ivan Rakitic to secure a 2-1 win at home to Dortmund that strengthened their grip on third place and lifted them to within a point of the leading pair.