Hamburg enjoyed a 2-0 win over Arminia Bielefeld on Sunday to go third in the Bundesliga and knock Bayern Munich down into fourth following their defeat at new leaders Hertha Berlin.
A goal from a free-kick by Germany winger Piotr Trochowski and a strike from Peru forward Jose Guerrero sealed the win for Martin Jol? Hamburg, who climb up from fourth to third behind second-placed Hoffenheim and Hertha.
With just four points separating the top five, this is the closest the title race has been since 1995.
PHOTO: AP
?f course, we want to become German champions,?Hamburg defender Michael Gravgaard said. ?here are still plenty of games to go and we have to pick up as many points as possible.?br />
Bielefeld had the chance of a late consolation goal against Hamburg, but Poland striker Artur Wichniarek missed the penalty.
Ten-man Borussia Dortmund were held to a 1-1 draw by Energie Cottbus and had South Korean Lee Young-pyo sent off in the last few moments when he kicked an opponent.
PHOTO: AP
German Bundesliga
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| Team | P | GD | PTS |
1 | Hertha Berlin | 20 | 9 | 40 |
2 | TSG Hoffenheim | 20 | 18 | 39 |
3 | Hamburg | 20 | 4 | 39 |
4 | Bayern Munich | 20 | 15 | 38 |
5 | Bayer Leverkusen | 20 | 16 | 36 |
6 | Wolfsburg | 20 | 14 | 33 |
7 | VfB Stuttgart | 20 | 7 | 32 |
8 | Borussia Dortmund | 20 | 6 | 31 |
9 | Schalke 04 | 20 | 7 | 30 |
10 | Werder Bremen | 20 | 9 | 27 |
11 | Cologne | 20 | -6 | 25 |
12 | Hannover 96 | 20 | -13 | 21 |
13 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 20 | -9 | 20 |
14 | Arminia Bielefeld | 20 | -13 | 18 |
15 | VfL Bochum | 20 | -10 | 17 |
16 | Cottbus | 20 | -17 | 17 |
17 | Karlsruhe | 20 | -18 | 17 |
18 | Borussia M?ladbach | 20 | -19 | 13 |
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