Hamburg are now two points behind leaders Bayern Munich who need five points to defend their title and are at home to VfB Stuttgart on Wednesday.

German international defender Lukas Sinkiewicz scored an own goal after three minutes to help Hamburg move seven points ahead of third-placed Werder Bremen with two games left.

If Bremen fail to win their game in hand against MSV Duisburg on Wednesday Hamburg will claim second spot and direct entry into the Champions League.

"We did not understand how to calm the game down at 1-0 and tried to play genius passes all the time," said Hamburg coach Thomas Doll.

"Cologne got stronger but we held on and have strengthened our grip on second."

Second would be a remarkable achievement for Doll's team who finished eighth last season.

In the race for the final UEFA Cup spot Bayer Leverkusen took a giant stride towards Europe thrashing nearest rivals Hertha Berlin 5-1.

Leverkusen, who have collected more points than any other team since the league restart in January, are now five points ahead of sixth-placed Hertha with two games left.

Brazilian international Juan scored after five minutes to put Bayer ahead and it got progressively worse for Hertha.

Bulgarian international Dimitar Berbatov scored twice in as many minutes to take his season's goals tally to 18.

Berbatov, who is tipped for a big-money exit in the summer, is now just two goals behind the league's top-scorer Miroslav Klose.

"We are confident of keeping Dimitar," said Leverkusen coach Michael Skibbe. "We have a good chance of playing in Europe and as long as a team does not come in with a 16 million euro bid we should be ok."

The 5-1 home defeat piles the pressure on Hertha manager Falko Gotz who targeted the Champions League in pre-season.

"It is incredible two set-pieces and a quick counter attack and we are three goals down -- but that is football," said Gotz.

"I cannot criticise my team. They kept going despite trailing so badly. Now we just have to secure six and qualify for the Intertoto Cup."

Leverkusen's win means Borussia Dortmund may have to enter the much-maligned Intertoto cup despite their fortunate 2-1 win over Hannover.

Czech international Tomas Rosicky produced a brilliant free-kick just three minutes after coming on to pull Dortmund level in the 59th minute.

Christian Worns then scored the winner in the 81st minute to sink Hannover.

"I have never experienced a game like that in my two years in charge," admitted Dortmund manager Bert van Marwijk.

"We did not deserve to win after the first half when we were awful."

It was a good night all round for Dortmund with Czech international forward Jan Koller playing his first match in seven months.

The 32-year-old Koller, who had been sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury, came on in the 71st minute as he builds fitness ahead of next month's World Cup in Germany.