Koln push Werder Bremen closer to relegation zone

Werder Bremen have edged closer to the Bundesliga drop zone after going down 3-1 at Koln in an error-ridden performance on Sunday.

Bremen gave away an early penalty, converted by Said El Mala, and lost captain Marco Friedl to a red card for a last-man foul midway through the first half. Koln's Ragnar Ache and Isak Johannesson scored either side of a Romano Schmid penalty for Bremen.

The defeat leaves Bremen, who have played the joint-most seasons in the German top flight alongside Bayern Munich, three points clear of the relegation play-off spot with five games remaining in the campaign.

Koln leapfrogged the visitors and are now five points clear of the drop zone.

Later on Sunday, Stuttgart welcome Hamburg with the hosts chasing a top-four spot while Mainz are at home to Freiburg.