Bundesliga round-up: Stuttgart heading towards Double

Stuttgart wins and climbs to second
This year`s German Cup finalist (26th May in the Berliner Olympiastadion against 1.FC Nürnberg) seems to have an unstoppbale run to the top, after winning all of their last six Bundesliga matches and approaching front runners Schalke (62 points) to only one point distance. Their away match against bottom placed Borussia Mönchengladbach was far from being a routine matter, as the hosts wanted to use their last chance to avoid relegation. It was newly appointed German international Roberto Hilbert, who converted a Thomas Hitzelsperger pass for the only goal of the afternoon. The young Italo-German secured his team vital 3 points with his second half strike. Stuttgart is now in a great position to claim both German titles of the season and many in Germany believe, that Stuttgart`s team of no-name youngsters might become the underrated surprise team of the year.

Schalke loses in dramatic battle
Schalke 04 had huge luck in retaining the top position in the Bundesliga, after their dramatic defeat against VFL Bochum (1:2) on Friday evening, when previously second ranked Werder Bremen lost to Arminia Bielefeld on Sunday evening with 2:3. Schalke was by all means superior to their opponents, exerting pressure against their opponents from early on, which was awarded with an early 1:0 lead, through a header from Kevin Kuranyi. But the "Little Ruhrpott Derby" was a matter of drama, when Bochum equalized through the excellent Bosnian midfielder Zvjezdan Misimovic shortly after. It was Greek wonder striker Theofanis Gekas, who decided this match with his 19th season goal already in the first half. Schalke tried to bounce back, althrough the second half, but it was Bochum who had the better chances to extend their lead with some excellent counter attacks, so that the final three points for relegation threatened Bochum was well deserved.

Werder continues to disappoint after Barcelona debacle
Werder`s 0:3 debacle against Espanyol Barcelona in the UEFA Cup semifinals last Thursday seemed to have seriously damaged their self confidence. That was clearly visible in their 2:3 defeat against bottom table team Arminia Bielefeld this Sunday evening. Bielefeld didn´t look threatened at all in facing their apparently superior opponent and so they went for an early lead in the first half with a header by Westermann. Bremen looked much more aggressive and determined in the second half, equalizing through Miroslav Klose, but Arminia`s heroic battle against relegation was awarded with the immediate 2:1 lead only 120 seconds later by Kamper. Portuguese striker Hugo Almeida equalized once again for Bremen, but then again the hosts bounced back with their final winning goal by Eigler in the 79th minute.

Bundesliga, 31st round

ARMINIA 3:2 WERDER
30 [1:0] Westermann
59 [1:1] Klose
61 [2:1] Kamper
74 [2:2] Almeida
79 [3:2] Eigler

BOCHUM 2:1 SCHALKE
08 [0:1] Kuranyu
33 [1:1] Misimović
41 [2:1] Gekas

BORUSSIA (M) 0:1 STUTTGART
53 [0:1] Hilbert
Red card: Gohouri (90, Borussia)

ENERGIE COTTBUS 2:1 BAYER
08 [1:0] Radu
44 [2:0] Kiessling
84 [2:1] Haggui (o.g.)

NÜRNBERG 1:1 WOLFSBURG
18 [0:1] Krzynowek
23 [1:1] Wolf

BAYERN 1:2 HAMBURG
35 [1:0] Pizarro
72 [1:1] Van der Vaart
77 [1:2] Guerrero
Rd card: Atouba (90, Hamburg)

BORUSSIA (D) 2:0 EINTRACHT FRANKFURT
39 [1:0] Frei
66 [2:0] Frei

MAINZ 1:2 HANNOVER
26 [0:1] Bruggink
49 [0:2] Jankov
81 [1:2] Zidan

ALEMANNIA AACHEN 0:4 HERTHA
07 [0:1] Gilberto
48 [0:2] Gimenez
78 [0:3] Pantelić
81 [0:4] Basturk