June, 2004 - Nr. 6
Bremen Capture Title,
Bayern Empty-Handed
TWIG - Werder Bremen last weekend secured their first German soccer Bundesliga title in 11 years, beating Bayern Munich 3-1 and ensuring that the defending champs will end the season without a single trophy for the first time since 1995.
With two rounds still remaining, the northern German club captured its fourth-ever title after an inspired performance that proved it is indeed the best team in the league.
Ivan Klasnic, Johan Micoud and Ailton each scored in the first half before a capacity crowd of 65,000 in Munich’s Olympic Stadium, giving the visitors a three goal advantage before Roy Makaay scored a consolation goal for Bayern in the 56th minute.
Bremen are now undefeated after 23 games, while the club’s Brazilian striker Ailton leads the Bundesliga’s scoring table with 27 goals and could still become the first player to net more than 30 since 1977.
More than 20,000 Bremen fans greeted the team upon its return from Munich on Saturday, while jubilant parties in the city ran late into night. Bremen will officially receive the Bundesliga trophy on Saturday from national team coach Rudi Voeller, a former Bremen player.
The Bavarians are meanwhile licking their wounds and trying to regain their composure ahead of a crucial encounter with third-placed Stuttgart this weekend. By holding onto second place with a win, Bayern would qualify directly for next season’s Champions League, salvaging a sliver of honor in a bitterly disappointing season.
After losing 2-1 away to Hamburg last weekend, Stuttgart are four points behind Bayern at 61.
At the other end of the table, Eintracht Frankfurt and 1860 Munich will both battle to avoid relegation in matches against Bochum and Hertha Berlin, respectively.
In other matches on Saturday, Hanover play Wolfsburg,
Schalke take on Kaiserslautern, Borussia Dortmund face Borussia
Moenchengladbach, Cologne host Hansa Rostock and Hamburg are away to
Freiburg.
Republished with permission from "The Week in Germany"
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