India, April 14 -- Cologne eased its Bundesliga relegation worries; Stuttgart took another step toward Champions League qualification and Freiburg defeated Mainz 1-0 away in a duel between European contenders.

Host Cologne enjoyed a 3-1 win over 10-man Werder Bremen that left the visiting team just outside the drop zone on Sunday.

It was the Billy Goats' first win under interim coach Rene Wagner after a 2-2 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt on his debut last weekend.

Wagner was handed the reins for the rest of the season after Cologne fired Lukas Kwasniok as coach on March 22.

Bremen's hopes took a major blow in the 24th minute when captain Marco Friedl was sent off for bringing down Ragnar Ache as the Cologne forward was through on go...