Werder Bremen too strong for Stuttgart

Werder Bremen have enhanced their chances of playing European football next season with a 4-1 away win against Stuttgart in the Bundesliga.

Thomas Schaaf's side are now 11th in the league table, just two points off the final Europa League spot.

The visitors made the breakthrough at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in the 34th minute when Mehmet Ekici turned in Kevin De Bruyne's cross from the centre of the box.

Stuttgart restored parity five minutes into the second half through Ibrahima Traore, but Bremen were back ahead on the hour mark when Aaron Hunt finished off a surging move by firing in from outside the box.

Ekici scored his second goal of the afternoon on 74 minutes with a direct free kick, and De Bruyne made it 4-1 to Bremen in injury time when he shot home from the right side of the Stuttgart penalty area.