Werder return to top of Bundesliga

Adjust font size:

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

Thomas Schaaf's side, under pressure after Schalke's win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, took the lead in the fifth minute with a Tim Borowski goal and were always in control after that.

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.

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 with 28 points from 18 games.

Werder scored 47 goals in the first half of the season and they were quickly into their fluent attacking rhythm against Hanover.

Their opening goal came when Klose broke clear on the right and picked out Borowski with a perfect cross to the far post.

Further goals should have come but Aaron Hunt in particular was guilty of poor finishing as chances came and went.

The second eventually came midway through the second half when Klose again set things up, squaring the ball for Almeida to smack in.

Klose should have made it 3-0 himself from the penalty spot but it was not long before he was once again on hand to help set up the third.

This time Diego sent over a free-kick and Klose headed goalwards. Goalkeeper Robert Enke managed to block but could do nothing to prevent Mertesacker from sweeping in the rebound.

Sunday's matches were preceded by a minute's silence in memory of Werner Hackmann, the Bundesliga president who died on Saturday night.

Get up-to-the minute news from CNN CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.

---

• Is Paris Hilton plotting a comeback?
• 'New Moon' taping could land woman in prison
• Knox prosecutor: It's not over till it's over
• Hosts South Africa drawn against France
• Khan destroys Salita in battle of faiths

• Irish PM to quit over payments scandal
• NATO chief: Afghan troop increase likely
• Militants hunted as calm retuns to Basra
• Pressure on Bush to skip Olympics
• BA sending misplaced T5 baggage to Milan

• Recruiting suicide bombers (2:50)
• London was lucky (2:36)
• Cars in London rigged as bombs (3:48)
• Second explosives-packed car foun (2:32)
• Soviet culture returns (3:47)