Schalke 04 stay clipping at Bayern's heels following a 4-1 home triumph over FC Nuremberg and lie second on goal difference.

Third-placed VfB Stuttgart continue to be the jinx side for champions Werder Bremen recording a 2-1 victory at the Weserstadion.

The result means Stuttgart are four points ahead of Bremen and strong favourites to seal the final Champions League spot for next season.

Bayern manager Felix Magath claimed international matches had left his selection of cosmopolitan troops drained but there was no signs of fatigue as Munich took the game to Wolfsburg.

The breakthrough came after 29 minutes with Torsten Frings darting down the right flank and finding German international Bastian Schweinsteiger with a cross to the back post.

Schweinsteiger showed great poise to trap the ball before producing an accomplished side-footed volley.

With the seconds ticking down to the half-time interval Bayern doubled their lead although there was a touch of fortune involved.

Roy Makaay drilled his shot at Wolves goalkeeper Simon Jentzsch but the ball ricocheted off Wolves defender Kevin Hofland and rolled back into the net.

Wolves hit the post in the 54th minute and Bayern rubbed salt in the wounds by scoring sixty seconds later with the impressive Frings glancing a header beyond Jentzsch.

Magath had the luxury of taking Dutch international Makaay off near the hour mark as a security measure for Wednesday's trip to Chelsea.

But Bayern must do without Peruvian attacker Claudio Pizarro for the tie at Stamford Bridge with the marksman limping off in the seventh minute with a thigh injury.

Schalke trail Bayern on goal difference at the summit after crushing Nuremberg 4-1 at the Arena Auf Schalke.

German Under-21 international Mike Hanke produced a great leap to direct a header home in the 24th minute and put Schalke in front.

In the 36th minute Brazilian Ailton then fed a precise through ball to Hanke and the marksman bided his time before finishing with aplomb.

Ailton scored four minutes later as Schalke went into cruise control and compatriot Lincoln netted on 74 minutes to cap a fine afternoon.

Reigning champions Bremen have refused to wave the white flag in their title defence but their slim hopes vanished with a 2-1 home reverse against Stuttgart.

Bremen were nine points clear at the top of the table last term as they powered to the title but this season just reaching the Champions League would suffice.