Fitness will be a key factor in Bremen-Hamburg duel

 Bremen defied all odds on Wednesday when they got a 3-2 Champions League victory against Real Madrid, but the team left lots of energy on the pitch.

 Hamburg have less than 48 hours of rest between their UEFA Cup match with Stade Rennes set for later Thursday, and the Bremen match.

 "Of course the scheduling is not ideal. But we are in good form and accept the situation. Moaning won't help us and if we beat Rennes we won't feel in Bremen that we are tired," said Hamburg midfielder David Jarolim.

 Bremen defender Per Mertesacker said: "A long year is coming to an end. This (the Madrid match) was in important message that we can still stand our ground."

   Bremen and Hamburg have 30 points apiece and the winner will top the standings for at least 24 hours as frontrunners Bayern Munich (31) don't play at lowly Arminia Bielefeld until Sunday night.

 Munich also have little time to rest as they were due to play in the UEFA Cup at Portugal's Braga late Thursday.

 Munich general manager Uli Hoeness said earlier this week that "I hope for a draw" in the Bremen-Hamburg match which could allow Munich to stretch their lead again with a win in Bielefeld.

 One Bremen player who will be rested is playmaker Diego as he was suspended for the Madrid match. Diego runs into Hamburg's Dutch star Rafael van der Vaart for what promises in intriguing midfield duel.

 Both players said that their teams are good enough to challenge Munich for the title until the end.

 Hamburg have not lost in Bremen in three matches since being clobbered there 6-0 in the 2003/2004 season. In addition, Hamburg were unbeaten in 13 competitive matches ahead of the Rennes game.

 "I have good memories of the Weser stadium, because I scored both goals in our 2-0 victory there last season," said van der Vaart.

 Injury-ridden Bremen saw the return of Aaron Hunt from a long layoff on Wednesday and Ivan Klasnic may also see more playing time after his debut last weekend from a kidney transplant.

 Elsewhere, champions VfB Stuttgart have returned to form and aim for a fifth straight league win against struggling Borussia Dortmund, fourth-placed surprise package SC Karlsruhe visit bottom club Energie Cottbus and Schalke play a Ruhr-area derby against VfL Bochum.

 The other Saturday game is VfL Wolfsburg vs. Eintracht Frankfurt, while Hansa Rostock opens the weekend action on Friday night against Hanover 96. The second Sunday game is a drop zone duel between MSV Duisburg and Nuremberg.

DPA