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Only a miracle will stop Bayern insists Rummenigge

SoccerNews in Bundesliga 3 May 2008

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Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insists now only a miracle will prevent Bayern Munich being crowned Bundesliga winners as they need just a point at VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday to be German champions for the 21st time.

Although second-placed Bremen beat Energie Cottbus 2-0 on Saturday to cut Bayern's lead to nine points, with three games left after this weekend, a point at Wolfsburg would mean Munich are crowned champions.

Bremen have only the barest of mathematical chances of winning the league title.

They would have to win their three remaining games while Bayern would need to lose all of their four remaining matches as well as have their goal difference of 41 cut in half.

“It would take something more than the seven wonders of the world for us to lose the championship now,” said Bayern chairman of the board Rummenigge.

But Bayern will be without Germany striker Miroslav Klose for the trip to Wolfsburg after he had surgery for the broken nose he sustained 10 days ago.

And question marks hang over the fitness of key players defender Martin Demichelis, captain Oliver Kahn, midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger and Franck Ribery, plus defender Lucio who are all carrying knocks from Thursday's defeat in St Petersburg.

The league leaders will be looking to restore some battered pride after the 4-0 hammering they suffered at the hands of Zenit St Petersburg in the UEFA Cup semi-final, second leg, last Thursday.

Wolfsburg are hunting a UEFA Cup place next season and, with former Bayern coach Felix Magath at the helm, will want Munich's scalp.

On Saturday, second-half goals by Swedish striker Markus Rosenberg and Portugal's Hugo Almeida were enough to give Bremen the win at Energie Cottbus.

But third-placed Schalke 04 are now out of the title race after a 1-1 draw with Hanover.

Dutch midfielder Arnold Jan Bruggink scored with a free-kick after nine minutes for Hanover, before Turkey striker Halil Altintop equalised just before the half-time break for the Royal Blues.

VfB Stuttgart broke back into the top five – and a place in Europe next season – when they pounded Eintracht Frankfurt 4-1.

The home side raced into a 3-0 lead after just 18 minutes as Turkish midfielder Yildiray Bastuerk scored two goals while Germany striker Mario Gomez also got on the scoresheet.

Brazilian striker Cacau hit a fourth just after the break, before Greek striker Ioannis Amanatidis grabbed a consolation goal for Frankfurt.

Hamburg are fourth after a 3-1 win at Hansa Rostock.

The guests took a decisive early lead as a pair of goals by Croatian striker Ivica Olic and a strike by captain Rafael van der Vaart made it 3-0 after 51 minutes.

Hamburg defender Joris Mathijsen turned the ball into his own net in the second half.

In the mid-table battle, Hertha Berlin beat Karlsruhe 3-1 at Berlin's Olympic Stadium in Saturday's mid-table tussle.

And Arminia Bielefeld helped their precarious league position, just above the relegation zone, with a 2-0 win over VfL Bochum.

On Friday night, Nuremberg did little to ease their relegation worries with a 0-0 draw at Borussia Dortmund.

And sixth-placed Bayer Leverkusen must beat bottom side Duisburg on Sunday to keep their dreams of a place in Europe alive.

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