In case you missed the game last week, here are the highlights of the game.

Germany won Liechtenstein 4-0.

>> Highlights: Germany vs. Liechtenstein

Forward Mario Gomez has not scored in his last 13 appearances for Germany so a match against a Wales side who appear to have surrendered all hope of reaching the World Cup finals could be just what he needs.

Coach Joachim Löw has remained loyal to Gomez despite his lack of goals and looks set to retain him alongside Lukas Podolski in Cardiff on Wednesday in Group Four in the continued absence of injured striker Miroslav Klose.

Stuttgart's Gomez could even benefit from the match being away after he was jeered by home fans in Leipzig on Saturday when he missed several chances in the 4-0 defeat of Leichtenstein which maintained Germany's four-point lead.

"Of course, the whistles hurt," Gomez said in an interview on Eurosport. "It is obvious that it wasn't good, and if they are whistling me personally, then that isn't nice. I know how it is and it would be different had I scored. I just need to start putting the ball over the line."

Euro 2008 runners-up Germany are clear favourites to win the group although with second-placed Russia, who have a game in hand, up against whipping boys Liechtenstein on Wednesday, Löw will be wary of the unpredictable Welsh.

"They need to open up more if they want to have a chance to qualify," Löw said of Wales although the mood in the Welsh camp after a 2-0 home defeat by Finland on Saturday suggests they have already given up.

Skipper Craig Bellamy summed up the mood after a third defeat in their five groups games so far. "You've probably seen two poor sides trying to contest this group and none have a glimmer of hope of qualifying," he told the BBC. "Where do we go from here? God knows."

Coach John Toshack admitted his side's hopes of qualifying for a first major finals since the 1958 World Cup finals are over. "We've got five games left and realistically if we won all five we still wouldn't have enough points."

Germany are likely to be unchanged from the side that beat Liechtenstein with Hamburg's Marcell Jansen retaining his place on the left and defender Serdar Tasci also getting another chance after a positive display on Saturday.

Probable teams:

Wales: Wayne Hennessey; Chris Gunter, James Collins, Lewin Nyatanga, Gareth Bale; Simon Davies, Carl Fletcher, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Ledley, Jason Koumas; Craig Bellamy.

Germany: Robert Enke, Andreas Beck, Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker, Serdar Tasci; Marcell Jansen, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Michael Ballack; Lukas Podolski, Mario Gomez.

Germany opened a four-point lead over Group 4 rivals Russia with a convincing 4-0 win against Liechtenstein here in Saturday's World Cup qualifier as captain Michael Ballack led the charge.

The Chelsea star was winning his 91st cap and guided his country to a comfortable victory which leaves Germany top of the group with 13 points ahead of second-placed Russia, who have nine points and face minnows Liechtenstein next Wednesday in Vaduz.

Germany were without several first-choice stars including striker Miroslav Klose - the top scorer at the 2006 World Cup - and back-injury victim defender Arne Friedrich, but the comfortable win was badly needed.

Home defeats to Norway in February and England last November had dented the team's confidence and tiny Liechtenstein, ranked 151st in the world and rooted to the bottom of the group, were never going to test their hosts.

It was Ballack who opened the scoring after just four minutes. Bayern München's midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger floated in a cross and Ballack drilled his shot past Liechtenstein goalkeeper Peter Jehle.

The Germans made it 2-0 five minutes later when Lukas Podolski's shot was saved by Jehle, but midfielder Marcell Jansen won the race to the ball and fired home.

It remained 2-0 at half-time, but Germany stepped up the pace after the break as both Podolski and Schweinsteiger struck in less than two minutes. Podolski drilled his shot at Jehle who parried and when the ball bobbled loose, Schweinsteiger had the simplest of tap-ins on 48 minutes.

With Klose out with an ankle injury, Stuttgart's Mario Gomez partnered Podolski up front and when Gomez's shot was saved, Podolski fired home from nine metres out to make it 4-0 after 50 minutes.

Joachim Löw has nominated 21 players for the upcoming games against Liechtenstein in Leipzig on March 28 and in Cardiff on April 1 against Wales, both qualifying games for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The German coach has refilled some open slots with Arne Friedrich, Marcell Jansen and Lukas Podolski – all three players sat out the year’s opening game against Norway due to injury. On Sunday, Friedrich cancelled his participation due to an injury, suffered in Berlin's 0-2 defeat at Stuttgart on Saturday.

Hannover's Robert Enke, recently sidelined due to a fractured left hand, returns as one of three goalkeepers on the roster. "I felt that he has had a rather successful convalescence, he’s found his old form quickly", said Löw about Enke. Löw also commented on Lukas Podolski’s reappearance in the ranks: "The fact that he battled back into Bayern's starting line-up did not have an effect on our nomination. We’d have called upon him either way, as we rate him highly. Lukas is an excellent forward."

Marcell Jansen from Hamburger SV is yet another returnee following a prolonged injury phase. "As Piotr Trochowski reports injured, we needed a midfield alternative. We will check back with the HSV to get another read on his ability to perform. But disregarding Trochowski's injury status, Marcell Jansen has performed well in the Bundesliga following the winter break. He is certainly a valid option."

Coach Fred Rutten is to leave Schalke 04 at the end of the season, he said on Thursday.

Schalke have had a disappointing season in the Dutchman's first year in the Bundesliga and sacked general manager Andreas Mueller earlier this month.

"Managing director Peter Peters has told me there is no future for Fred Rutten at Schalke next season," the coach told reporters.

The team finished third in the league last season but are now eighth, 12 points off the pace. They have also been eliminated from the German Cup and UEFA Cup.

"It is a pity because Schalke are a super club and has great potential with fans who are close to the team," added the 46-year-old Rutten whose contract was due to end next year.

The supporters, however, have been demanding Rutten's removal for some time. On Sunday, Schalke lost 2-1 at home to Hamburg SV.

The club are also searching for a replacement for Mueller and have held talks with several candidates including former Germany and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.

Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness has ruled out making any more signings in the summer, warning the club will have to make do with the strikers they have.

Lukas Podolski's move to Cologne at the end of the season will leave the Bavarians with just three recognised frontmen in Luca Toni, Miroslav Klose and Ivica Olic, who will arrive from Hamburg in the summer.

Youth player Thomas Muller can also be called upon, but Hoeness insists there will be no further additions.

"I would rather have a few weeks with a shortage (of strikers) than go through the whole theatricals we had with Lukas Podolski all season," said Hoeness.

Podolski's on-off move to Cologne dominated the sporting headlines in Germany between August and February, when the two Bundesliga clubs finally reached an agreement over his transfer.

He made only a handful of appearances for Bayern during that time, but has now broken into the starting XI with Toni and Klose both injured.

Their injuries also provided Muller with his first-team debut in the Champions League win over Sporting Lisbon and Hoeness believes keeping a streamlined squad should allow the teenager to develop.

"We have decided to go into next season with Luca Toni, Miroslav Klose, Ivica Olic and Thomas Muller," Hoeness told the Munchner Merkur newspaper.

"If we were to sign another ready-made striker, then Thomas Muller would have to sit on the bench again, but we want to give a young player the chance here."

Muller scored on his debut against Sporting and is in line for his full Bundesliga debut in 10 days' time at Wolfsburg, should Toni not recover from an ankle injury.

Germany coach Joachim Low is sweating over the fitness of goalkeeper Rene Adler and playmaker Piotr Trochowski ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein.

The pair arrived at the national team's hotel today carrying knocks and had to report to national team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt for tests.

Adler has a swollen elbow while Trochowski sat out Hamburg's 2-1 win at Schalke yesterday with a pulled muscle.

"There is still a question mark over Trochowski, but I hope he can start training in the next few days," said Low. "Adler has bruising and swelling, but I am confident he can also train this week."

Low is unlikely to call up any replacements, despite already losing Miroslav Klose, Torsten Frings and Arne Friedrich.

Germany host Liechtenstein in Leipzig on Saturday before travelling to Cardiff to face Wales four days later.

Bayern Munich coach Jurgen Klinsmann claims he has already fulfilled the main target he was given when he took over at the German champions, but knows he cannot afford to rest on his laurels.

Klinsmann took over from Ottmar Hitzfeld last summer with success in the Champions League the priority and, having reached the last eight, where Bayern will face Barcelona, he has already achieved that.

Yet that no longer seems enough as Klinsmann still struggles to win over the critics.

"The task the board gave me was to get this team back among the best in Europe," he revealed. "Together with Barcelona, we have so far made the most convincing impression.

"We are on an incredible streak in the Champions League and are playing quick, attacking football. If we can beat Barca now, then nobody will be moaning anymore."

But the fans' main gripe is with Bayern's league form. They have yet to sit atop the Bundesliga this season and this is why Klinsmann, despite his successes in Europe, including a record 7-1 win over Sporting Lisbon in the last round, cannot feel so comfortable in his position.

"We cannot find consistency and the mental approach we need to be able to play our best in the league," he admitted in an interview with Kicker magazine.

"We are only managing to do that when we are under real pressure and it appears to be our last chance. After every defeat, everything is called into question."

But Klinsmann still fancies his side's chances of winning the league and is rolling his sleeves up for the final nine games of the season.

"I would be unhappy if we did not win the league and I can say that openly," he added. "The countdown begins now and this is when the titles are decided."

Bayern travel to Wolfsburg in their next Bundesliga fixture to face a side who have yet to lose in 2009 and are currently level on points and goal difference with them in second place.

But the likelihood is the title will go down to the wire with Bayern facing fellow challengers Bayer Leverkusen, Hoffenheim and Stuttgart in their last three games of the season.

Hamburg SV scored twice in the first half to beat visitors Energie Cottbus 2-0 on Sunday and stay within four points of Bundesliga leaders Hertha Berlin.

Fourth-placed Hamburg are level on 45 points with VfL Wolfsburg, who beat Schalke 04 4-3 on Friday and second-placed Bayern Munich, 3-0 winners at VfL Bochum on Saturday. Hertha, who beat Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 on Saturday, have 49 points.

In a lacklustre match Hamburg needed only a brief good spell to sink Cottbus closer towards relegation.

The goals came in a seven-minute period with striker Ivica Olic heading in a Mikael Tavares cross before Piotr Trochowski, who came on for injured Mladen Petric, doubled the lead with a long-range free kick in the 39th minute.

Cottbus, one spot off the bottom of the table on 20 points, threatened only rarely and seemed resigned to their fate.

"You could call this a workmanlike win. It may sound terrible but it is important for us," Hamburg coach Martin Jol told reporters. Jol will have to do without Petric for about two weeks after the Croatian striker tore a thigh muscle.

Tenth-placed Werder Bremen crushed VfB Stuttgart 4-0 with Markus Rosenberg scoring a brace after Diego and Claudio Pizarro had put them in the lead, ending Stuttgart's nine-match unbeaten league run since coach Markus Babbel took over in November.

Werder grabbed the lead through a stunning Diego free kick, the Brazilian masterfully curling the ball over the Stuttgart wall and into keeper Jens Lehmann's top corner.

Eight minutes after the restart Pizarro, on loan from Chelsea, unleashed a thundering drive from 22 metres for his 12th league goal of the season.

Diego then picked out Rosenberg with a pin-point pass down the middle for the striker to slot home before the Swede also scored a second in the 74th minute in similar fashion with Alexandros Tziolis providing the pass.

"Finally the team gets a great result," Werder coach Thomas Schaaf said. "What was also pleasing was the higher degree of efficiency in our game."

Michael Ballack will captain Germany at the 2010 World Cup, assuming the three-times winners qualify, but midfield colleague Torsten Frings still has work to do to secure his place, coach Joachim Löw said.

Löw had a public falling-out last year with both Ballack and Frings after the two men criticised the way senior players were being handled in the squad.

Both played in the recent friendly defeat by Norway and Ballack at least has been assured of his continuing presence.

"If (Ballack) is fit he will be there as captain in 2010," Löw told Bild newspaper. "Of course it was a very strong conflict with Michael. But we live in football, not in some holy world. You will always have conflicts."

He added: "We all made mistakes last year. All of us."

Löw sounded less certain of Frings's chances of being in the squad for South Africa.

"Torsten was injured for quite some time," said Loew, who guided Germany to the runners-up spot at Euro 2008.

"He must work now to get back to his old form. But we also have to see how the team will develop, with some new players coming in, even from the current season."

Germany, who play World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein on March 28 and Wales on April 1, top Group Four with 10 points from four matches. Russia are second on six with a game in hand.

Club president Franz Beckenbauer compared Bayern Munich to Liverpool after his team scored a record 12-1 aggregate win over Sporting to stroll into the Champions League quarter-finals.

The Germans are unbeaten in this season's Champions League but their form has been inconsistent in the Bundesliga.

Liverpool, who have not lifted their domestic title in almost two decades, won Europe's top club competition in 2005 and were beaten in the final two years later. On Tuesday, the Anfield team notched a 5-0 aggregate victory over Real Madrid.

"Maybe Bayern are becoming a bit like Liverpool," Beckenbauer told DSF television after his side crushed Sporting 7-1 in the second leg at the Allianz Arena.

"The players clearly enjoy playing in the Champions League which they see as a special challenge."

Lukas Podolski led the Bayern spree with two goals. Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mark van Bommel, Miroslav Klose (penalty) and Thomas Mueller also struck while Sporting defender Anderson Polga put through his own net.

Coach Juergen Klinsmann, who has come under fire for Bayern's up-and-down Bundesliga title challenge, said it was time for his players to focus hard on wiping out their four-point deficit on leaders Hertha Berlin.

"The Bundesliga is a bit difficult this season given the team won the (domestic) double last year," said Klinsmann.

"My team enjoys the Champions League but we must now turn our eyes to the league."

Bayern have lost three times in the Bundesliga since the turn of the year and have also been knocked out of the German Cup.

Beckenbauer warned his players to improve their domestic form.

"If we don't watch out at home maybe there is no Champions League to play in next season," he said.

Bayern carried on where they left off two weeks ago, inflicting a record 12-1 aggregate defeat on Sporting Lisbon to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Leading 5-0 from the first leg, a double from Lukas Podolski and Anderson Polga's own goal put them 3-0 up on the night within 40 minutes before Joao Moutinho pulled one back in stunning fashion.

It was the briefest respite for Sporting, though, Bastian Schweinsteiger hitting an immediate reply, before Mark van Bommel, Miroslav Klose (pen) and Thomas Muller netted in the second half.

The result was a record aggregate winning margin for a post-group stage Champions League game, surpassing Lyon's 10-2 demolition of Werder Bremen in 2005.

The scoring began in the eighth minute, Podolski combining well with Ze Roberto on the edge of the box after Bayern took advantage of a poor defensive clearance before hammering home from the edge of the box.

Bayern were rampant and Klose came within inches of making it 2-0 after 19 minutes.

Some slick Bayern interplay on the edge of the box ended with Van Bommel firing goalwards, though his strike was beaten away by Rui Patricio.

Klose pounced on the rebound but his effort grazed the post.

After 29 minutes, Schweinsteiger curled in a free-kick in and Philip Lahm, unmarked, stretched but could only deflect the ball wide.

A minute later another Schweinsteiger cross found Klose, who made a mess of his effort from close range.

The second finally came after 34 minutes, albeit in slightly farcical circumstances.

A long punt from the Bayern keeper Jorg Butt sailed through to the edge of the Sporting area.

It should have been simple for the visiting defence, but a horrible mix-up between Polga and and Patricio allowed Podolski to flick the ball over his head and into the empty net.

Polga's night got even worse 39 later when he scored an own goal, volleying Schweinsteiger's cross into his own net with what looked like assurity.

There was a brief hiatus in Sporting's embarrassment when Moutinho's classy strike arrowed into the far left corner three minutes before the break to reduce the arrears.

But barely a minute later, Christian Lell pulled the ball back for Schweinsteiger to sweep home, making it 9-1 on aggregate.

Bayern coach Jurgen Klinsmann made two changes at half-time, bringing on Jose Sosa and Breno for Ze Roberto and Lucio.

Perhaps inevitably with such a mammoth cushion, their intensity dipped and they failed to create the same amount of scoring opportunities after the break.

A fifth did arrive, though, in the 74th minute, substitute Muller's cross headed across goal by Klose for Van Bommel to control and fire home.

And Klose continued to pile on the woe for Sporting in the 82nd minute, picking himself up from a foul by Pedro Silva to convert the subsequent penalty.

Teenager Muller, making his Champions League debut, rounded things off in the final minute, poking home from Sosa's corner.

Mainz and Wehen Wiesbaden will be looking to upset the form book this week as they aim to book a place in the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal at the expense of Bundesliga opposition.

Mainz, who knocked Cologne out in the second round, host Schalke tomorrow night in the first of this week's quarter-final ties with the pressure firmly on the top-flight side.

The Royal Blues have failed to make a big impression in the Bundesliga this week and coach Fred Rutten was under increasing pressure until a 2-1 victory at Frankfurt at the weekend restored a hint of tranquillity in Gelsenkirchen.

However, Rutten knows only a win can save him from renewed criticism tomorrow.

"We want to reach the next round because our aim in this competition is (the final in) Berlin," he said. "It doesn't matter how we get through; the main thing is that we win."

Wehen travel to Hamburg on Wednesday needing to register their first away win of the season to follow up a win over Karlsruhe in the last round and record another shock.

However, having scored only three goals in six games so far in 2009, the odds are stacked against the second division strugglers.

Wolfsburg have emerged as possible Bundesliga title contenders thanks to their 3-1 win at Hamburg yesterday and manager Felix Magath, who led Bayern Munich to back-to-back league and cup doubles, can keep alive dreams of emulating that feat with the Wolves by beating Werder Bremen.

The other tie sees cup holders Bayern Munich travel to Dusseldorf, where they will face Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday night.

Both teams have injury worries with Luca Toni and Philipp Lahm both serious doubts for Bayern and Manuel Friedrich ruled out for the home team.

Leverkusen have yet to win in their adopted home of the Dusseldorf Arena, but goalkeeper Rene Adler thinks now would be the perfect time for that record to end.

"I am really looking forward to the Bayern game," he said. "To beat them and reach the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal would be worth its weight in gold."

Bayern Munich's domestic woes continued on Sunday when they were held 0-0 at Werder Bremen and slipped to fifth in the Bundesliga.

Bayern, who have won only one league game in five this year but crushed Sporting 5-0 in Lisbon in the Champions League last week, are four points behind leaders Hertha Berlin, who went top with a 2-1 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday.

Hamburg SV, leaders going into the weekend's matches, failed to regain top spot on Sunday when they lost 3-1 at home to VfL Wolfsburg and are a point behind Hertha.

Hoffenheim are third with 41 after a lacklustre 0-0 draw against Borussia Dortmund.

Wolfsburg, who displaced Bayern from fourth place, notched their fourth successive win after striker Grafite opened the scoring with a penalty, awarded for a foul on Edin Dzeko, in the 12th minute.

Grafite scored again in the 25th when Marcel Schaefer raced past Hamburg's Guy Demel and cut into the middle for the Brazilian striker to net his 14th league goal.

"These two goals in the first half really broke our neck," Hamburg coach Martin Jol told reporters. "We did not lack passion but Wolfsburg were a more compact team and deservedly are high up in the table."

Striker Paolo Guerrero managed to pull one back for Hamburg with a low drive from 10 metres before Dzeko scored his 11th goal from close range just two minutes later.

BATTLING WERDER

Bayern, coming into the match on the back of an impressive performance in the away leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, failed to break down Werder's resistance even after the hosts were reduced to 10 men. Naldo was sent for fouling last man Bastian Schweinsteiger after 15 minutes.

"We have to accept the result as it is," said Bayern coach Juergen Klinsmann, who has yet to see his team at the top this season.

"We could have decided the match in our favour in the first half but after that we just did not get the necessary space," he told reporters.

With Bayern eager to make amends for a disappointing start to the year and Werder, pre-season favourites now lingering in mid-table despite ousting AC Milan in the UEFA Cup, both teams charged forward at a frantic pace.

Mesut Ozil almost grabbed the lead for the hosts after four minutes. Diego found the talented Germany international on the left inside the box where he did well to avoid one defender and shoot only for Ze Roberto to clear almost on the line.

Hamit Altintop came agonisingly close for Bayern minutes later but Werder keeper Christian Vander blocked the shot with Franck Ribery's rebound flying into the side netting.

Even the introduction of strikers Lukas Podolski and Landon Donovan for midfielders Schweinsteiger and Altintop in the second half failed to crack open a hard-working home defence.