Hamburg SV's slip up has guaranteed Werder a place in Europe next season. The Green-Whites took the success in there stride: "We were all confident that we could achieve our goal. The side have proven over the course of the season that they possess the quality to challenge in Europe. It's possible that we could be in yet another position by the end of the week", said headcoach Thomas Schaaf. The Werder coach admitted that considering the results from Stuttgart (0:2 Bochum) and Hertha Berlin (0:0 Gladbach), he still has an eye on third spot.

By the final whistle in stadiums around the Bundsliga, Werder had transformed into "Hunting Mode". German international Tim Borowski exlained: "Psychologically we are involved in a three way battle for third place and we have the advantage of having convincingly won at the weekend to boost confidence - the others will respect the new situation because of that."

General Manager Klaus Allofs is taking the hunt for third place lightly: "The chances of us finishing in third spot are much better than the chances of getting six numbers in the lottery." The ex-international continued "Both Hertha and Stuttgart have opponents who want to show something. Bayern proved at the weekend that despite the title win, they still want to win games. They certainly won't make it easy for Stuttgart - they've got to do that to maintain their momentum for the cup final and of course they will do everything they can to help Roy Makaay snatch the top goalscorer title. Hertha have to face Hanover who can still qualify for the UI-Cup."

Allofs demands complete concentration for his sides task in Kaiserslautern: "We've got to be there to capitalize if one of the others slips up - which means we have to win." Tim Borowski commented: "It's up to ourselves to stay in the running until the final whistle."