Hargreaves' late strike lifts Bayern

By Mark Bennett

Owen Hargreaves' vicious strike in the dying seconds at the AWD-Arena earned Bundesliga leaders FC Bayern München a 1-0 win away to Hannover 96 as their nearest rivals FC Schalke 04 slipped to defeat against Hamburger SV.

Hargreaves back
The England midfielder, who was left out of the squad for the return leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea FC on Tuesday, struck from 25 metres with only seconds left to give Bayern victory as they bounced back from their Champions League exit. Bayern had dominated throughout but failed to break down a massed Hannover defence until Hargreaves' late strike took them six points clear of Schalke at the top of the Bundesliga.

Schalke lose
The side from the Ruhr Valley's title hopes suffered a huge blow with a 2-1 defeat at home by UEFA Cup-chasing Hamburg. Gerald Asamoah gave the home side the perfect start only three minutes into the match when he converted from an Ebbe Sand pass.

Mpenza winner
But Schalke lost control of the match midway through the first half and Hamburg punished the home side after the break. Raphael Wicky equalised on 61 minutes and former Schalke striker Emile Mpenza dealt the decisive blow when he struck three minutes from the end.

Stuttgart stumble
VfB Stuttgart, in third, failed to cash in on Schalke's misery as they also lost 2-1 away to strugglers FC Hansa Rostock. Swedish international Marcus Allbäck gave the home side the lead six minutes before the break but Cacau cancelled out his strike in the opening seconds of the second half.

Prica goal
Stuttgart never really found the form that had given them hope of challenging for the title in recent weeks and Rade Prica shattered their dreams of catching Bayern 16 minutes from the final whistle. Stuttgart remain third and Hansa 17th.

Magic Marcelinho
Champions Werder Bremen also suffered an upset on Saturday as they slipped to a 1-0 home defeat against Hertha BSC Berlin. Marcelinho's 15th goal of the season was enough to put Hertha on level points with Bremen.

Thurk equaliser
In Saturday's other action, Bayer 04 Leverkusen restored hope of qualifying for the UEFA Cup with a 3-1 win away to SC Freiburg, BV Borussia Dortmund were held to a 1-1 draw by DSC Arminia Bielfeld and Michael Thurk's added-time equaliser gave 1. FSV Mainz a point from their trip to VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach.