Werder Bremen remain hot on the heels of the Bundesliga's top sides after a convincing win on the 16th match day of the season when they won 4:1 (1:1) in Cologne. Miroslav Klose made his return to the Bundesliga bearing the protective mask he wore in Wednesdays Campions League tie against Panathinaikos Athens. Aaron Hunt had to return to the bench with Naldo and Torsten Frings returning to take the places of Christian Schulz and Tim Borowski.

Thomas Schaafs side took to the field of play at Cologne's RheinEnergie-Stadion in concentrated mood in front of a 50,000 capacity crowd but failed to make in roads towards the opponents goal. Nelson Valdez had the first opening after 13 minutes but miscued his effort and then missed out on converting a driven cross by Patrick Owomoyela by centimeters. Cologne had their first effort after 19 minutes when Dimitrios Grammozis tried his luck from distance but to no avail. Rapolder's team then took a surprising lead when Mokhtari beat Frank Fahrenhorst to the ball and delivered to Imre Szabics who won an aggressive challenge with the advancing Andresas Reinke and forced the ball over the line (24').

Naldo levels with 30m hammer

Bremen remained in control and need ten minutes to find a suitable answer to Colognes lead. Naldo demonstrated why his ferocious shot was so feared in Brazil when the 23 year old stepped up and hammered a 30m free-kick into the top right corner of the Cologne goal leaving FC's keeper Stefan Wessels looking less than convincing. The home team came close to re-taking the lead just before the break when a clever Grammozis pass found Scherz but Reinke was on hand to deny him (44').

Instead it was the visiting supporters who had the chance to celebrate five minutes after the re-start when captain Frank Baumann picked out Johan Micoud with a perfect pass. The Frenchman dashed into the box and took out two Cologne defenders with a square ball to Miroslav Klose who only had to hold his foot in to give the guests the lead. FC almost equalised minutes later when Mokthari proffited from a Naldo mistake but again Reinke got down to deny the Marroccan.

K&K strinke force re-unite

Werder tried to take the pace out of the game and frustrate an increasingly tiring home team despite the fresh legs of Epstein and Guié-Mien up front. The visitors too failed to really create many openings aside from a penalty shout when Valdez crumbled under a challenge from Sinkiewicz (71'). The Paraguayean was soon after replaced by the returning Ivan Klasnic for the first time since his appendix operation. His K&K partner Klose came close again with a low drive from the edge of the box but couldn't keep his shot on target.

Thomas Schaafs eleven saved the deciding third goal until the nintyeth minute with Johan Micoud completing a counter attack played through Ivan Klasnic and Torsten Frings. The K&K duo had another trick up their sleeves with Klose trapping a cross from Klose on his chest and then dancing around the Cologne keeper before sliding the ball home to give Werder a deservedly high scoring win.

Johnnie Muldoon

1. FC Köln – Werder Bremen 1:4 (1:1)

1. FC Köln: Wessels - Sinkala, Sinkiewicz, Matip, Benschneider - Grammozis (53. Guié-Mien), Schindzielorz - Scherz, Mokhtari, Rahn (53. Epstein) - Szabics (30. Lurling)

Werder Bremen: Reinke - Owomoyela, Fahrenhorst, Naldo, Andreasen - Baumann - Vranjes, Frings - Micoud - Klose, Valdez (72. Klasnic)

Tore: 1:0 Szabics (24.), 1:1 Naldo (34.), 1:2 Klose (50.), 1:3 Micoud (90.), 1:4 Klose (90+1.)

Referee: Stark (Landshut)

Attendance: RheinEnergie-Stadion; 50,000 (sold-out)

Yellow cards: Sinkala - Fahrenhorst, Micoud, Baumann

Shots on goal: 12 : 21

Corners: 4 : 3

Crosses: 12 : 20

Possession: 43% : 57%

Tackles won: 45% : 55%

Fouls: 17 : 14

Offsides: 3 : 0

Most shots on goal: Benschneider, Mokhtari (je 3) – Valdez (4)

Most assists: Grammozis (5) – Klose (6)

Most possession: Sinkala (85) – Owomoyela (102)

Strongest tackler: Sinkiewicz (67%) - Fahrenhorst (78%)