Bochum 0-0 Cologne
Mainz 1-1 Hamburg
Nurnberg 0-1 Freiburg
Hoffenheim 1-2 Dortmund
Hertha 1-3 Eintracht
Bremen 2-2 Wolfsburg
Monchengladbach 1-0 Schalke
Leverkusen 4-0 Stuttgart
Hannover 0-3 Bayern
Stefan Kiessling often played second fiddle to Patrick Helmes since the younger man's arrival on the scene. With Helmes out injured long-term, Kiessling is relishing the added responsibility and a hat-trick this weekend helped his side to an easy win over Stuttgart, heaping yet more pressure onto Markus Babbel in the process, to consolidate Leverkusen's position at the top of the tree as their closest challengers all dropped points. He volleyed in the first from close range, bursting between static defenders at a set piece and Eren Derdiyok made it two at the break, again exploiting some terrible defending. Kiessling's second on the hour made it safe, Toni Kroos setting up the striker to finish from the edge of the box. The hat-trick was completed three minutes from time, Jens Lehmann hacking down the effervescent Kroos and Kiessling made no mistake.
The contrast with Bayern's woes couldn't be sharper, though the Bavarians' win at Hannover papers over a few cracks. Luca Toni made the squad, but was an unused substitute, the new great hope of German centre forwards Thomas Muller getting the nod instead and rewarding his manager with the opener. Ivica Olic headed in a second just after the break and Mario Gomez wrapped it up in the last minute with a third. Bremen slipped back a bit after drawing with Wolfsburg for whom Edin Dzeko twice put them in front. Hugo Almeida eqaulised the first and Per Mertesacker bundled in a last minute equaliser for the point which briefly put Werder top. Schalke were beaten at Gladbach, Marco Reus with the only goal of the game. Hamburg continue to do it tough and January can't come quickly enough as they're desperately short of forwards now. Tunay put them ahead in Mainz early on, but Tim Hoogland grabbed a point six minutes from time. Hoffenheim gifted Dortmund an early goal, caught in possession deep in their own half and Jakub Blaszczykowski took the invitation. Demba Ba equalised just after the break, but Nuri Sahin's penalty won it, shortly before the Villagers were reduced to ten with Maicosuel dismissed late on.
Freiburg grabbed a valuable win at Nurnberg, Stefan Reisinger with the only goal of the game, whereas Friday night's ambomination of a match in Bochum - Cologne the visitors - didn't muster anything much at all. Hertha went down again, losing 3-1 at home to Eintracht. A super pass picked out Patrick Ochs for the first, midway through the first half, and two quick-fire goals from Maik Franz and Alex Meier made the game safe. Gustavo Ramos pulled one back late on - too little, too late, which may end up being the motto of this wretched season in the capital.
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