While Bayern Munich were beating against Borussia Moenchengladach 3-0, their nearest challengers, Borussia Dortmund,lost 1-2 in Berlin.
Werder Bremen took Dortmund’s second place in the Bundesliga after drawing 2-2 against Bielefeld. Consequently, Bayern increased their lead, having a comfortable 8-point cushion now, followed by Bremen and Dortmund.
England’s young international Owen Hargreaves opened the scoring after 25 minutes. “It took me two-and-a-half years to score my first Bundesliga goal for Bayern and I am happy that this matter is sealed now”, claimed Hargreaves after the match.
Zickler and Elber completed the 3-0 result against M’Gladbach in the end.
Title holders Dortmund were unluckily defeated 2-1 in Berlin by Hertha BSC. Brazilian Marcelinho scored the winner in the last minute thanks. Werder Bremen lost two important points as a result of their 2-2 draw at home against Bielefeld.
Despite taking the lead, they couldn’t finish off Bielefeld.
Leverkusen sufffered a nightmare in the “BayArena”, where last years runners-up Bayer crashed 0-3 to Energie Cottbus, the league’s bottom side.
Bayer’s frustrated manager Toppmoeller stated-“This result is a huge disappointment for us and… we are right in the middle of a relegation battle.”
Elsewhere, Stuttgart (2-1 in Kaiserslautern) and Schalke (2-1 in Stuttgart) mainatained their UEFA-Cup-spots with wins away from home.
The other results were Hansa Rostock 1-4 1860 Munich; (a hat-trick by Munich’s forward Schroth), Hannover 96 2-2 Hamburger; VfL Bochum-2-1 1.FC Nuernberg.
The three relegation spots are still taken by Hannover, Kaiserslauten and Cottbus. Leverkusen are only three points above the relegation zone. And their next match will be at last year’s champions Borussia Dortmund of all teams.
