[goldenHuddlestone]

Werder Bremen took back top spot in the Bundesliga with a 3-0 victory at home to Hanover 96 on Sunday.

Thomas Schaafs side, under pressure after Schalke 04s win against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, took the lead in the fifth minute with a Tim Borowski goal and never looked back.

Hugo Almeida got the second in the 67th minute and Miroslav Klose missed a penalty before Per Mertesacker tapped in to make it 3-0 in the 74th.

With 18 games played, Werder climb back top with 39 points. They lead Schalke on goal difference following their 3-1 win away to Frankfurt.

Bayern Munich trail by six points in third place after returning from the long winter break with a costly 3-2 defeat away to Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.

VfB Stuttgart also drifted further, with their 4-1 defeat by Nuremberg on Saturday leaving them in fourth place on 32 points.

Bayer Leverkusen stayed in the hunt for European places by beating Alemannia Aachen 3-2 on Sunday.

Leverkusen had to come from 2-0 down to claim a victory which took them back up to sixth place with 28 points from 18 games.

[Matt the Thrasher]

Hugo Almeida comes from Figueira da Foz so I'm hoping Bremen can win it.

[Matt the Thrasher]

Werder Bremen & Schalke 04 remain locked together at the top of the Bundesliga following midweek matches.
Werder won 2-0 at Bayer Leverkusen with goals from Klose & Almeida.Schalke were less convincing a penalty & an own goal gave them a 2-1 win at home to Alemania Aachen.Stuttgart moved 3rd with a 3-2 home win over Arminia Bielefeld,whilst Bayern Munich slipped to 4th with a disappointing 0-0 draw at home against Bochum.

Standings after 19 games:
1st Werder Bremen 42pts, 2nd Schalke 42, 3rd Stuttgart 35, 4th Bayern Munich 34