Duisburg have happy Christmas

With only one guaranteed place in next season's UEFA Women's Cup up for grabs after Germany's contenders both fell in the quarter-finals this year, the Frauen Bundesliga title race is for higher stakes than ever, and FCR 2001 Duisburg hold the advantage of 1. FFC Frankfurt and ailing champions 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam.

Duisburg ahead
In the final games before the winter break this weekend, Duisburg defeated TSV Crailsheim 2-0 to maintain their advantage with goals from Simone Laudehr and Nicole Bender. The only points dropped by Duisburg were in a 6-1 defeat by Frankfufrt, and the deposed European champions are two points behind with a game in hand after continuing their unbeaten start with a 2-1 win against third-placed SC 07 Bad Neuenahr. Kerstin Garefrekes gave Frankfurt a first-minute lead and although Célia Okoyino da Mbabi equalised shortly after the hour mark, Sandra Smisek struck the winner with 14 minutes left. Inka Grings, who quite Duisburg in October but has now returned, made her comeback at half-time.

Mutual appreciation
That result left Neuenahr seven points adrift of Frankfurt, whose coach Hans-Jürgen Tritschoks was impressed. "It was the expected difficult game. It was vital that we were up for the fight. We missed the chance to score a second goal after taking the lead. Bad Neuenahr became stronger and stronger and I have respect for what Dietmar Schacht has done there, they have a good side." Schacht, whose side's only other defeat was in their opener against Duisburg, said: "I am proud of my team. The way they performed was fantastic. They put heavy pressure on the opponents and did everything to take one or even three points home from Frankfurt."

Potsdam struggle
Frankfurt's only league slip was in a 2-2 draw at Hamburger SV a week ago, and they relaunch the season on 4 February with their game in hand against FFC Heike Rheine. However, the other UEFA Women's Cup quarter-finalists, Potsdam, are only fifth - 13 points behind Duisburg - after being held 1-1 at FC Bayern München. Nicole Banecki even gave Bayern a half-time lead but Conny Pohlers equalised after the hour mark. SG Essen-Schönebeck remain ahead of Potsdam despite a 2-1 loss at SC Freiburg, but things look bleak for FFC Brauweiler Pulheim who have lost all ten games, including a 2-0 weekend defeat at VfL Wolfsburg. Heike Rheine are also in the relegation zone but upped their tally to nine points as they beat Hamburg 2-1.