Frankfurt frustrate Bayern, Ailton and Bremen triumphant

Reigning champions Bayern Munich fell further off the title pace with a 1-1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt meaning the favourites are now six points adrift of Werder Bremen who crushed Hertha Berlin 4-0 with Ailton scoring twice.

Frankfurt have a habit of collecting points from Bayern - with their 2-1 victory over Bayern in 2001 etched in the club's folklore - and they denied the champions the spoils once again, although French World Cup winner Bixente Lizarazu gave them a helping hand.

Dutchman Roy Makaay, who continues to be Bayern's main source of goals, gave the visitors the perfect start after just 40 seconds following good work from strike partner Claudio Pizarro.

However Bayern's dream start metamorphosised into a nightmare when an erratic challenge from Lizarazu on South Korean star Cha Du-Ri allowed Ervin Skela to level from the penalty spot with seconds remaining before the half-time whistle.

"We started well with the early goal and dominated Frankfurt early on but then conceded the equaliser just before the break," bemoaned Bayern chief Ottmar Hitzfeld.

"Bremen now have a six-point advantage but the title race still has a long way to go."

Munich's galaxy of stars stomped angrily down the tunnel for the half-time interval and a stern talk from manager Ottmar Hitzfeld.

In the second period both sides went for the throat with Owen Hargreaves and Michael Ballack going close for Bayern but Frankfurt, who could have won the match late on, held on for a vital point in their battle against relegation.

While Bayern struggled, Werder Bremen and their striking talisman Ailton showed no signs of cobwebs from the six-week winter break.

The leaders continued where they left off by hammering Hertha Berlin 4-0.

Hans Meyer's first match in charge of Hertha proved torrid as Bremen ran riot, going 3-0 up after just 35 minutes.

"I am really pleased that we managed to take our performance in training onto the pitch," said Bremen manager Thomas Schaaf. "The team has demonstrated that they want to get back on the winning trail."

Any fears that Ailton would lose his midas touch in front of goal were laid to rest after 17 minutes when he seized on an awful backpass from compatriot Marcelinho and finished with aplomb to open the floodgates.

On the half-hour mark the 30-year-old Ailton struck again to net his 18th goal of the campaign before Frenchman Johan Micoud added a third five minutes later, outfoxing the Berlin defence with a deft touch and shot on the run.

Paraguayan substitute Nelson Haedo Valdez found time for a fourth late on.

Hertha, who finished one spot above Werder last season, lie deep in the relegation mire.

VfB Stuttgart leapfrog Bayern into second place after their 2-0 win over Hansa Rostock at the Gottlieb-Daimler Stadium.

Handing a debut to Boris Zivkovic, a recent arrival from Portsmouth, Stuttgart looked compact at the back but struggled to open the scoring.

Belarus star Alexander Hlleb eventually broke the deadlock on the hour to relieve the tension of the home fans who had seen their team fail to win any of their last four Bundesliga outings.

"I am glad that we have got three points on the board again after a lean spell," said the relieved Stuttgart coach Felix Magath.

German international Kevin Kuranyi extended that lead on 75 minutes guiding an inswinging free-kick into the net with the defence all at sea.

Bayer Leverkusen can displace Stuttgart in second with victory in Sunday's match with SC Freiburg.