German football powerhouse Hamburg's title dreams were snubbed after they were humiliated with another defeat at the hands of northern rivals Werder Bremen on Sunday. Bremen striker Hugo Almeida scored twice to crush Hamburg 2-0, making the hosts on the uphand position in all last four encounters with the Hansa brother club.

Due to the loss, Hamburg stay five points behind Bundesliga leaders Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich with just three rounds left, and even temporarily dropped down to sixth and out of the European spots.

However, the home victory does not bring any change in Bremen's position in Bundesliga standings, they remain in 10th.

The hosts had to make do without injured players Diego and Per Mertesacker as well as suspended duo Sebastian Boenisch and Clemens Fritz, but they had better chances throughout.

Markus Rosenberg hit the outside of a post after a quarter of an hour before Werder keeper Tim Wiese denied Piotr Trochowski at the other end after 24 minutes.

Almeida then opened the scoring in the 34th minute when he tabbed home Dusko Tosic's cross from the left into an empty net.

Wiese had to be at his best again to deny Paolo Guerrero four minutes before half-time.

Almeida once again converted a left-wing cross four minutes into the second half to seal the victory.

The Portuguese striker could have had a hat-trick, but missed further opportunities after 54 and 64 minutes before substitute Torsten Oehrl hit the post nine minutes from time.

Hamburg have recently lost to Bremen in the semifinals of both German Cup and UEFA Cup

German football powerhouse Hamburg's title dreams were snubbed after they were humiliated with another defeat at the hands of northern rivals Werder Bremen on Sunday. Bremen striker Hugo Almeida scored twice to crush Hamburg 2-0, making the hosts on the uphand position in all last four encounters with the Hansa brother club.

Due to the loss, Hamburg stay five points behind Bundesliga leaders Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich with just three rounds left, and even temporarily dropped down to sixth and out of the European spots.

However, the home victory does not bring any change in Bremen's position in Bundesliga standings, they remain in 10th.

The hosts had to make do without injured players Diego and Per Mertesacker as well as suspended duo Sebastian Boenisch and Clemens Fritz, but they had better chances throughout.

Markus Rosenberg hit the outside of a post after a quarter of an hour before Werder keeper Tim Wiese denied Piotr Trochowski at the other end after 24 minutes.

Almeida then opened the scoring in the 34th minute when he tabbed home Dusko Tosic's cross from the left into an empty net.

Wiese had to be at his best again to deny Paolo Guerrero four minutes before half-time.

Almeida once again converted a left-wing cross four minutes into the second half to seal the victory.

The Portuguese striker could have had a hat-trick, but missed further opportunities after 54 and 64 minutes before substitute Torsten Oehrl hit the post nine minutes from time.

Hamburg have recently lost to Bremen in the semifinals of both German Cup and UEFA Cup