Bayern Munich warmed up for their vital Champions League clash with Milan on Wednesday by opening up a five point lead at the top of the Bundesliga, winning 1-0 at Hansa Rostock.
Ze Roberto scored the winner to capitalise on slip-ups by rivals Werder Bremen and Borussia Dortmund to maintain Bayern’s early season domestic dominance.
Dortmund could only manage a 0-0 draw at home to Arminia Bielefield, and their disappointment was exacerbated by the news that defender Christoph Metzender broke his nose in the game and is expected to miss three matches.
Werder meanwhile were involved in an eight-goal thriller at Hannover 96. Werder looked to have secured all three points with goals from Aillton and Angelos Charisteas putting them 4-2 up, but Fredi Bobic was the Hannover hero, levelling the scores with two late strikes.
Hertha Berlin condemned Energie Cottbus to a 2-0 reverse, ennsuring Cottbus remain at the foot of the table. Hertha goals came from Brazilian duo Marcelinho and Alex Alves.
Munich 1860 scored an impressive 3-0 home win over Schalke, goals from Benjamin Lauth (2) and Markus Schroth in a game where both sides were reduced to ten men before half time.
Bayer Leverkusen moved towards relative safety thanks to Thomas Bdaric’s goal against second from bottom Kaiserlautern and Hamburger SV leapfrogged Borussia Monchengladbach in the table by beating them 1-0.
Sunday saw an entertaining 4-2 win for Bochum over Wolfsburg, despite being 2-1 down at half time, and Nurnberg returned to the relegation zone after being beaten at home 2-1 by Stuttgart. Greek youngster Joannis Amanatidis supplied the winner six minutes from time.
