BERLIN (AFP) - Bayern Munich shrugged off their midweek Champions League defeat at Real Madrid to beat Wolfsburg 2-1 on Saturday to hand coach Ottmar Hitzfeld a morale-boosting win.

German international striker Lukas Podolski scored from a 26th-minute penalty, his second goal of the season, after a foul by Alexander Madlung on Claudio Pizarro who had been picked ahead of Roy Maakay.

Mark van Bommel added the second nine minutes into the second half with a 18-metre drive.

Cedric Makiadi scored a 79th-minute consolation for Wolsfburg.

The win left Bayern in fourth spot, nine points behind leaders Schalke 04, who play Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday, and on course to grab a place in the Champions League next season should they fail to overturn a 3-2 deficit to Real in the second leg of their last 16 clash.

They are two points behind Werder Bremen, who meet Borussia Monchengladbach on Sunday, in third place, the last qualifying place for Europe's top competition.

"The most important thing was the three points to keep us in contention," said Hitzfeld.

"We were a little bit uncertain in defence at the start but after that we worked well. We deserved this win."

Stuttgart wasted a golden chance to close the gap on Schalke 04 on Friday when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Hertha Berlin.

The result left second-placed Stuttgart four points behind the leaders.

Hertha, who defended strongly and in numbers, were happy to take a point especially after midfielder Ashkan Dejagah was sent off in the dying minutes.

The Berlin side were also indebted to goalkeeper Christian Fiedler who pulled off a fine save in injury time to keep out the dangerous Mario Gomez, whose mood would not have been helped by having a 12th-minute strike on goal ruled out for hand ball.

Stuttgart went into the match stripped of the talents of skipper Fernando Meira and Antonio da Silva both injured while influential Mexican defender Pavel Pardo was suspended.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Borussia Dortmund had Nelson Valdes sent off as they lost 4-2 at Hanover while SV Hamburg eased their relegation fears with 3-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

Egyptian international striker Mohammed Zidan grabbed both goals as Mainz 05 beat Nuremberg 2-1.