Bayern beat Hertha ahead of Real showdown

BERLIN, Mar 3 (Reuters) Bayern Munich tuned up for their Champions League showdown against Real Madrid next week and climbed back into the Bundesliga championship race with a 3-2 victory at Hertha Berlin today.

Hasan Salihamidzic, Lukas Podolski and Roy Makaay scored to give Bayern their first away victory since December 20.

Their second straight win lifted Bayern to within six points of faltering Schalke 04, stuck on 49 points after two losses, at the top of the table.

Werder Bremen jumped from third place into second on 46 points with a 3-0 win over VfL Bochum, moving in front of VfB Stuttgart, who were beaten 3-1 by Bayer Leverkusen and have 45 points as the championship race tightened.

Bayern were 12 points back in fourth two weeks ago and had all but written off any hopes of retaining their title. They host Real Madrid in the return leg of their Champions League tie on Wednesday after losing the first leg 3-2.

REUTERS SY MIR RAI2214