Stuttgart move clear

As Stuttgart fought back to clinch a seventh successive league victory, Schalke went down 2-0 at Ruhr Valley rivals Borussia Dortmund.

Werder Bremen's title hopes were finally extinguished in a surprise 2-1 home defeat by Eintracht Frankfurt.

The results took Stuttgart to the brink of a fifth German championship and their first in 15 years.

With 33 of 34 games played Stuttgart have 67 points followed by Schalke on 65 and Werder on 63. Victory at home to Energie Cottbus next weekend would be enough to clinch the championship for Stuttgart.

Schalke held a one-point lead at the start of play and even had hopes of wrapping up their first title with a week to spare. Now they will need to win at home to Arminia Bielefeld next weekend to stand any chance.

"We're disappointed, obviously, and very sad," Schalke coach Mirko Slomka told reporters. "But the season isn't over until next Saturday and we simply must win against Bielefeld."

Schalke were denied by Bayern Munich on a heartbreaking last day of the season in 2001 and in several campaigns since they have thrown away good positions late on.

A derby with Dortmund offered the beguiling prospect of clinching the title at the home of their fierce rivals but they never looked like fulfilling their part of the bargain in what was a match of few chances at the Westfalenstadion.

Dortmund took a deserved lead at the end of the first half. Christoph Metzelder, sprinting forward from defence, cut out the defence with a perfect cross for Alexander Frei to convert.

Schalke chased an equaliser with little conviction and Ebi Smolarek sealed their fate when he scored with five minutes to go.

Stuttgart fell behind to a fine finish from Oliver Schroeder four minutes into their game, a few kilometres down the road in Bochum.

Thomas Hitzlsperger equalised but still Stuttgart were far from convincing and they fell behind again when Marcel Maltritz struck from the edge of the box before halftime.

Stuttgart's luck changed when Mario Gomez came off the bench to make his first appearance since he suffered a knee injury in early March.

The German striker poached an equaliser in the 61st minute, his 14th goal of a wonderful season, and also played a part in the build up to Cacau's coolly taken winner 11 minutes later.

"In the end we earned it," said Stuttgart coach Armin Veh. "We're now going to keep our concentration and work hard for the final match. That's how we've played all season."

Victory for Werder would have kept them in the race. They recovered from an early goal from Ioannis Amanatidis to level through Aaron Hunt but an own-goal from Naldo midway through the second half sealed their defeat.

Bayern, who long ago had to give up hope of a third successive title, or even a place in the Champions League, won 3-0 at Energie Cottbus.