Werder back on form, Bayern beat Hamburg

@tvbp1985 (999)
China
November 25, 2006 7:08pm CST
BERLIN, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Werder Bremen moved back within two points of Bundesliga leaders Schalke 04 with a 3-0 win at home to Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday, while Bayern Munich stayed in touch by beating crisis club Hamburg SV 2-1. Miroslav Klose struck twice in the first half to set Werder on their way. The Germany striker then set up Aaron Hunt to score the third and cap an outstanding week for the Bremen side, who beat Chelsea 1-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday. Bayern went a goal down to Hamburg when Rafael van der Vaart scored from the penalty spot in the 18th minute. The champions looked short of ideas until substitute Sebastian Deisler cut in from the right and set up Roy Makaay for an equaliser in the 57th minute. Deisler created the winner for Claudio Pizarro 12 minutes from time. With 14 games played, Schalke lead with 29 points following a 2-1 win over VfL Bochum on Friday. Werder stay second on 27 points, with Bayern up to third on 26. VfB Stuttgart, in fourth on 24, can overtake Bayern if they win at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach on Sunday. Hamburg's latest defeat leaves them in deep relegation trouble, one place off the bottom with 11 points. Coach Thomas Doll's chances of surviving beyond the winter break look slimmer than ever. TERRIBLE START Hamburg beat Bayern home and away last season on their way to third place. They were expected to be up there challenging for the title again this season but injury problems have contributed to a nightmare start. The visit of Bayern offered the chance to prove they could still compete with the best in Germany and for the first half at least a revitalising win looked on the cards. Boubacar Sanogo tempted Martin Demichelis into a stupid challenge on the left of the area to set up the penalty, which Dutchman Van der Vaart converted via the right-hand post. Hamburg kept Bayern safely at arm's length for the remainder of the first half but the came turned with the introduction of Deisler, making his second substitute appearance after eight months out with a knee injury. The 26-year-old winger showed terrific control to bring the ball in from the right and feed Makaay with a pass that gave the Dutchman an easy finish from five metres. Hamburg, who suffered their fifth successive Champions League defeat when they lost 3-1 at Arsenal on Tuesday, looked broken by the equaliser. They managed to cling on in the face of ever more intense pressure until Bastian Schweinsteiger found Deisler in more space on the right and he teed up Pizarro to score from the edge of the area.
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