Werder Bremen moved to within three points of the European places after a dominant 4-0 victory over a hapless Augsburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday.

The home side were 3-0 ahead in the first 30 minutes before adding a fourth in the closing moments.

Bremen had defeated Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund mid-week in the German Cup on penalties and they took that form into Sunday's game.

Wearing a special kit for their 120th birthday, Kosovan midfielder Milot Rashica scored Bremen's first goal after just five minutes, latching onto an expertly-weighted pass from Davy Klaassen to hammer the ball into the bottom corner.

Augsburg's English defender Reece Oxford went close in the 24th minute, but the on-loan West Ham player's header drifted just over the bar.

Johannes Eggestein scored Bremen's second almost immediately, thumping a deflected shot from Max Kruse into the net.

Less than a minute later Bremen were on the attack again, with Rashica scoring a memorable goal.

The midfielder cut inside off the left wing, beat Oxford before curling a stunning shot into the top corner.

It was more of the same after the break for Augsburg, who lacked rhythm and confidence while looking a long way away from the side that beat Mainz 3-0 last week.

Bremen's veteran striker Claudio Pizarro, who scored against Dortmund in midweek, came off the bench in the 77th minute and he provided the flick which allowed Kevin Mohwald to add the fourth.