Bundesliga Drama

Schalke's 2-0 defeat to neighbors -- and rivals -- Borussia Dortmund means Stuttgart are two points clear at the top of the table with just one game to go, leaving them in pole-position to pick up their third Bundesliga title.

A win at home to Energie Cottbus next Saturday will bring the Bundesliga title to Stuttgart's Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion.

"There is still a lot of work to be done," said Stuttgart coach Armin Veh. "It will all be counted up at the end next week. We will just work hard to stay focused and keep our concentration, which we have done all season. It will come down to who holds their nerve next weekend."

Stuttgart kept on their toes

Stuttgart were made to work for their win as they fell behind to an early goal after Bochum midfielder Oliver Schröder took a neat pass from Bundesliga top-scorer Theofanis Gekas to put the home side 1-0 up.

German international midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger got Stuttgart level after 20 minutes before Bochum defender Marcel Maltritz put the hosts 2-1 up going into the half-time break.

Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez, back after a knee injury, pulled off a spectacular diving header to make it 2-2 before Brazilian striker Cacau crashed in a left-footed shot on 73 minutes. But Stuttgart's goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand was a late hero after he pulled off a stunning save from point-blank range in the dying seconds to protect the lead.

Schalke must now win at Arminia Bielefeld, and hope Stuttgart lose, to have any hope of picking up their first Bundesliga title after their 2-0 defeat to neighbors Borussia Dortmund.

Swiss striker Alexander Frei slotted home on 44 minutes before Polish striker Euzebiusz Smolarek scored five minutes from time to seal Dortmund's win.

"We are only second in the table, that is bad enough," said coach Mirko Slomka. "The team is disappointed, of course, and the boys are hurt right now. It's our job to lift them to do a good job against Arminia Bielefeld to secure at least second place.

"There is still 90 minutes left of the season, so we have to win at Bielefeld to at least give us a chance," Slomka added.

Bremen out of the race

Werder Bremen are now out of the title race after they went down 2-1 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt, which leaves them an unreachable four points behind Stuttgart.

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

Bremen's striker Aaron Hunt equalized for the hosts on 34 minutes, only for Brazilian defender Naldo to turn the ball into his own net on 69 minutes.

Although they are just playing for pride this season having missed out on a Champions League spot next season, fourth-placed Bayern Munich took a 3-0 win at Energie Cottbus thanks to two goals in three minutes.

Dutch striker Roy Makaay cooly slotted his goal past Cottbus's Bosnian keeper Tomislav Piplica for the opening goal after 32 minutes before Belgian defender Daniel van Buyten thundered is his shot from 20 metres out. And 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.

Alemannia 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 Mönchengladbach, 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.