Leverkusen regains Bundesliga top spot
Source: Agencies |
January 18, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
BAYER Leverkusen struck three times in a decisive 15-minute spell to set up a 4-2 win over Mainz and move back to the top of the German Bundesliga on Saturday, two points clear of resurgent Bayern Munich.
Undefeated Leverkusen, with 38 points from 18 matches, went behind to an early Tim Hoogland strike but Michal Kadlec, Tranquillo Barnetta and Toni Kroos soon put it clear.
Mainz gave the host a scare when it cut the deficit through Niko Bungert in the 67th minute before Eren Derdiyok sealed victory two minutes from time with a low drive.
Bayern has 36 points after beating Hoffenheim 2-0 on Friday, while Hamburg SV moved up to third with 34 points following its 2-0 win against SC Freiburg.
Schalke 04, also on 34, was hosting lowly Nuremberg.
Bottom-placed Hertha Berlin notched its second win of the season by beating host Hanover 96 3-0 with Greece striker Fanis Gekas, its new loan signing, grabbing Hertha's third goal.
Bayern topped the Bundesliga for the first time in 18 months with the Hoffenheim win - its seventh straight victory in all competitions - but its stay there was short-lived after Leverkusen recovered from the early setback.
"We found it hard going at the start and needed to be awakened," said Leverkusen coach Jupp Heynckes.
"We had a great phase in the first half and should have finished off the game there and then because we had lots of chances. When Mainz closed in to 3-2 we reacted again quickly."
Undefeated Leverkusen, with 38 points from 18 matches, went behind to an early Tim Hoogland strike but Michal Kadlec, Tranquillo Barnetta and Toni Kroos soon put it clear.
Mainz gave the host a scare when it cut the deficit through Niko Bungert in the 67th minute before Eren Derdiyok sealed victory two minutes from time with a low drive.
Bayern has 36 points after beating Hoffenheim 2-0 on Friday, while Hamburg SV moved up to third with 34 points following its 2-0 win against SC Freiburg.
Schalke 04, also on 34, was hosting lowly Nuremberg.
Bottom-placed Hertha Berlin notched its second win of the season by beating host Hanover 96 3-0 with Greece striker Fanis Gekas, its new loan signing, grabbing Hertha's third goal.
Bayern topped the Bundesliga for the first time in 18 months with the Hoffenheim win - its seventh straight victory in all competitions - but its stay there was short-lived after Leverkusen recovered from the early setback.
"We found it hard going at the start and needed to be awakened," said Leverkusen coach Jupp Heynckes.
"We had a great phase in the first half and should have finished off the game there and then because we had lots of chances. When Mainz closed in to 3-2 we reacted again quickly."
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