Stuttgart one win away from title

Adjust font size:

BERLIN, Germany -- Stuttgart have the Bundesliga title within their grasp after Brazilian striker Cacau fired home a 73rd minute winner in a 3-2 victory at Bochum, while Schalke slipped to a 2-0 defeat at neighbors Borussia Dortmund.

Werder Bremen's 2-1 home loss to Eintracht Frankfurt ended their title hopes but they could still win an automatic Champions League spot by finishing second.

In the final round of matches next week Stuttgart, who are two points clear at the top, are at home to Energie Cottbus.

Schalke, whose goal difference is three worse than Stuttgart's, play their last game at home to Arminia Bielefeld, while Bremen, two points further adrift in third position, travel to Wolfsburg.

Schalke, who started the day one ahead of Stuttgart, fell behind a minute before the interval when Swiss striker Alexander Frei rammed home a powerful shot.

Five minutes from time Ebi Smolarek added Dortmund's second, and the defeat drastically reduced Schalke's hopes of lifting the title.

They can still become champions by beating Bielefeld if Stuttgart lose at home to Cottbus. Should Stuttgart draw Schalke must win their game by four clear goals. Stuttgart can guarantee themselves the crown by beating Cottbus.

If Schalke lose Bremen can climb up to second by winning at Wolfsburg.

Schalke coach Mirko Slomka said: "We must win at home next week and hope for the best, that's the only thing we can do. But it's hard to believe that we can still win it.

"We didn't manage to create enough chances today."

Stuttgart's championship prospects were anything but rosy for the first hour at Bochum. They fell behind to Oliver Schroeder's fourth minute effort and although Thomas Hitzlsperger equalized after 24 minutes, Marcel Maltritz restored Bochum's advantage three minutes before the break.

Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez, back after a knee injury, pulled off a spectacular diving header to make it 2-2 after 61 minutes before Brazilian striker Cacau crashed in a left-footed shot after 73 minutes.

Stuttgart then had goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand to thank for a stunning save from point-blank range in the dying seconds to protect the lead.

"What a great day for us. We are on a roll and we are in a good position, but we have to be careful," said marksman Hitzlsperger.

Bremen's championship bid ended as they went down 2-1 at home to lowly Frankfurt.

Frankfurt's Greek international defender Ioannis Amanatidis gave them a 13th minute lead.

Pointless

Bremen's striker Aaron Hunt equalized for the hosts after 34 minutes, but Brazilian defender Naldo turned the ball into his own net after 69 minutes to leave Bremen pointless..

Bayern Munich, who have missed out on a Champions League spot next season, won 3-0 at Cottbus.

Dutch striker Roy Makaay beat Bosnian keeper Tomislav Piplica from the penalty spot after 33 minutes and two minutes later Belgian defender Daniel van Buyten thundered in a shot from 20 meters.

Bayern striker Roque Santa Cruz bagged a third in the 61st minute.

Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart put mid-table Hamburg 1-0 up at Nuremberg with a well-struck free-kick on 39 minutes and midfielder David Jarolim scored just before the break as it finished 2-0.

Both Mainz 05 and Alemannia Aachen are now virtually sure of relegation after Saturday's results.

Aachen took a 2-0 lead at home to VfL Wolfsburg, only for the visitors to get back on level terms as the game finished 2-2.

Only a miracle will keep Aachen from relegation. They have to pray Wolfsburg lose at Bremen next weekend, while they must win at Hamburg and overturn a 13 goal difference to avoid the drop.

And even though Mainz managed a 3-0 win over already relegated bottom-side Borussia Moenchengladbach, they also have to hope Wolfsburg lose and they can pull back a huge goal difference.

Bayern Leverkusen enjoyed a 3-2 win over Hertha Berlin, while Arminia Bielefeld's 3-1 win over Hanover leaves them well clear of the relegation zone.

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.

---

• Ebola toll rises in 'unprecedented' outbreak
• Report: MH370 a criminal investigation
• Life inside the densest place on earth
• Ocean Shield's mission of hope, uncertainty
• Cosmetics queen fights skin bleaching

• 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)