Fulllana and Absalon win World Cup cross-country mountainbike

In World Cup cross-country mountainbike action. Margarita Fullana claimed her 5th career victory in Belgium on Sunday.

The win helped her to move the top of the World Cup standings. China's Ren Chengyuan placed third. The men's title went to Julien Absalon.

Fullana is the reigning cross-country world champion, and she went on the attack during the first of four laps around a 7.4-kilometre circuit in Houffalize, Belgium. Fullana tried her best to outdistance her pursuers and powered to victory in a time of one hour, 25 minutes and 1 second.

In the men's side, World Cup leader Absalon sealed his second straight victory. The defending men's World Cup cross-country champion increased his lead at the top of the UCI series standings after Sunday's win.

Victory makes Bremen, Leverkusen closer to European dream

BERLIN, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Sweeping victory on Sunday made German football powerhouses Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen closer to their European dream.

Claudio Pizarro's hat-trick fired Bremen to 4-1 victory over Hannover 96, leaving them 10 points behind fifth place and the final Champions League spot, while relegation-threatened Hannover remained winless away from home.

Neither team offered much in the first half but Bremen grabbed the lead four minutes before the break when Claudio Pizarro opend the scoring in the 41st minute.

In the second half, Robert Enke, the keeper of Hannover 96, saved penalty shot by Werders Diego. Hannover 96 came soon back and leveled the score with a Jack Krynowek drive in the 69th minute.

Diego finally scored in the 77th minute before Claudio Pizarro completed his hat-trick.

The Rhine derby between Cologne and Leverkusen got to be a very boring game. Both teams tried to make the game, and they had their chances but in the first half time no one scored.

Twenty-one minutes after restart, Leverkusen's Stefan Kiesslinggot a cross from Simon Rolfes and scored. Ten minutes later Pedro Geromel tripped Kiessling in the penalty box and the referee point to the spot. Leverkusen's Patrick Helmes converted the penalty into the right corner.

With the away win, Bayer Leverkusen claimed the 7th position in the Bundesliga table and shortend the gap to the European final place.

Sunday's battle between two relegation-stricken clubs Karlsruheand Moenchengladbach turned out to be a goalless draw.