HANNOVER, Feb 18 (SW) - The difference between Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen was reduced to nine points on Saturday, as Bayern drew with Hannover while Werder won at Borussia Dortmund.

Hannover 96 - Bayern Munich 1-1

Bayern only just managed to earn a point at Hannover 96. The hosts opened the score with a goal from Thomas Brdaric in the 56th minute, but playmaker Michael Ballack levelled with just one minute left to play in regular time.

Borussia Dortmund - Werder Bremen 0-1

Werder Bremen needed only one goal to get three points at Borussia Dortmund. Ivan Klasnic was responsible for the decider in the 37th minute.

Hertha BSC - Schalke 04 1-2

Gerald Asamoah's 6th-minute goal for Schalke was cancelled out by Alexander Madlung in the 34th minute, but Zlatan Bajramovic restored the visitors' lead just before half time.

Fabian Ernst was sent off for Schalke in the 66th minute, but Gilberto followed for Hertha in the 85th.

Borussia M'gladbach - Cologne 2-0

Cologne went down to ten when Roland Benschneider was sent off in the 28th minute. Things got worse for the guests when Christian Lell scored an own goal in Mönchengladbach's favour in the 54th minute. A second goal was added by Oliver Neuville, twenty minutes later.

Bayer Leverkusen - Duisburg 3-2

Bayer had a good start with goals from Paul Freier and Tranquillo Barnetta in the 7th and 9th minutes respectively, but Duisburg's Klemen Lavric netted in the 42nd and 65th minutes to level the score.

But the visiting side had Marino Biliskov expulsed in the 77th minute, and Dimitar Berbatov took advantage by scoring for 3-2, eight minutes later.

Kaiserslautern - Arminia Bielefeld 2-0

Kaiserslautern achieved their fifth win of the season and are close to leaving the relegation zone. Nine minutes had been played when Boubacar Sanogo opened the score, and the same player also took care of the second goal in the 88th minute.

Nurnberg - Wolfsburg 1-0

Nurnberg took the lead with a goal from Ivan Saenko in the 16th minute, and Wolfsburg failed to use the remaining time to score an equalizer.