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  • Monday 23 February 2009

    Another new leader: Bundesliga reviews

    Schalke 1-1 Dortmund
    Arminia 1-1 Bochum
    Energie 2-1 Bremen
    Bayern 1-2 Cologne
    Stuttgart 3-3 Hoffenheim
    Karlsruhe 0-1 Eintracht
    Monchengladbach 3-2 Hannover
    Wolfsburg 2-1 Hertha
    Leverkusen 1-2 Hamburg

    There's a third leader in three weeks in the Bundesliga as Hamburg take over at the top this week with fellow challengers failing to win. They beat fellow challengers Leverkusen with a brace from Marcell Jansen either side of another goal for Patrick Helmes. They were Jansen's first goals of the season. His first came on 18 minutes as he cut inside from the left flank and fired past Rene Adler before Helmes equalised, voleeying past Frank Rost at his near post. Just after the hour, Jansen put his side back in front tapping in from six yards after Ivica Olic had gone close. That put them top after previous leaders Hertha were beaten in Wolfsburg. Cicero had put the Berliners in front on the hour, Patrick Ebert intercepting a poor clearance from Wolfsburg stopper André Lenz, but Edin Dzeko's late double gave the Wolves the points. He showed great strength to shake off Marc Stein for his first and heading in off the bar six minutes from time. That lifts his side to sixth, level with Leverkusen. Bayern were beaten at home by Cologne. Bayern should have had the lead when Miroslav Klose had a header ruled out for offside, though replays showed the decision to be wrong. Instead, Cologne went ahead through Fabrice Ehret, latching on to a loose ball after sloppy play from Martin Demichelis. Just after the half hour, Daniel Brosinski doubled the advantage, blasting home from the edge of the box. Lukas Podolski had started for Bayern, but was withdrawn at half-time for Landon Donovan after failing to impress either his current or future employers. There were six goals in a Stuttgart game for the third successive week as they drew 3-3 with Hoffenheim. It should have been seven goals and all three points for TSG, but Sejad Salihovic blasted a stoppage time penalty over the bar and into the stands after Demba Ba's hat-trick goal had brought them level. Ba's first put Hoffenheim ahead as Ralf Rangnick's three-man attack caused havoc. Jens Lehmann got a hand to Ba's shot for the opener, but it was hit so hard, he didn't really stand a chance. Two minutes later, Stuttgart were level as Mario Gomez - excellent again - played in Cacau who nicked it past Daniel Haas and inside the far post. Gomez then got the first of his double, heading in from close range before Ba levelled it up again, clipping a delightful finish high past Lehmann. Gomez's 13th of the season put his side back in front on the hour, lobbing Haas, but Ba's third levelled it up for the third time, beating Lehmann at his near post. Ludovic Magnin brought Carlos Eduardo down in injury time, giving Salihovic the chance to snatch the win, but he wasted the chance. Hoffenheim remain second. They have bigger worries though, with Gladbach appealing their 1-1 draw after it emerged that two Hoffenheim players were late for their mandatory drug tests.

    Gladbach did themselves a massive favour, winning at home against Hannover. They remain bottom, but now just three points from safety, veteran striker Oliver Neuville coming off the bench to hit a late winner after his side had blown a two-goal lead. Alexander Baumjohann and precocious youngster Marko Marin had given Gladbach that cushion going into half-time, but second half goals from Sergio Pinto and Christian Schulz levelled it up before Neuville who volleyed home with seven minutes remaining. Bochum and Bielefeld drew with one another, helping neither side much, indeed both being leapfrogged by Energie who beat Bremen. Bochum were leading for much of the game after Diego Klimowicz's goal in the first half, but a late equaliser from Andre Mijatovic ensured a share of the spoils. Bremen are in rotten form and Energie took full advantage, coming from a goal down to win it and give themselves a massive boost. Hugo Almeida had put Werder ahead just after half-time, but Ivica Iliev replied in quick time. It wasn't until stoppage time that Dimitar Rangelov put Energie ahead to take his side out of the drop zone. Thomas Schaaf has no excuses as Almeida, Diego et al were all in the side, making it his strongest side for some time. Eintracht pulled themselves out of immediate danger, ending a poor run with a narrow away win over Karlsruhe, Caio - a half-time substitute - making an almost immediate impact, volleying home from Michael Fink's cushioned header.

    The Friday game was the big Ruhr derby and the honours were once again shared, although without the controversy of the first meeting of these sides earlier in the season. Schalke should have been out of sight as they bossed the game for long periods, but paid for profligacy in front of goal. Kevin Kuranyi scored an absolute peach on 20 minutes to open the scoring, a flying volley from Halil Altintop's cross, but he also wasted the best chance of the match shortly before the break - a huge let off for their big rivals. Schalke continued to waste chances after the break, but Dortmund had brought on Mohamed Zidan at half-time for Kevin-Prince Boateng who was in danger of getting himself sent off for a series of wild tackles. Zidan's extra pace caused Schalke more problems, especially on the counter, and, sure enough, the Egyptian was the one to level it up nine minutes from time, slamming home as the ball broke to him in the box. And he nearly won it as Dortmund finished the stronger, but Manuel Neuer pulled off a fine save.

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