Bayern dominate
September 24, 2011
In Sunday's Bundesliga action, Germany forward Lukas Podolski set up one goal and scored another to lead Cologne 2-0 past Hoffenheim for its first home win of the season.
Podolski created Mato Jajalo's opening goal in the 20th minute and then scored his own in the 64th minute. Cologne, who had drawn once and lost twice in previous home games, are 10th with 10 points.
In the day's other game, Claudio Pizarro scored twice to give Werder Bremen a 2-1 win over Hertha Berlin, with the winning goal coming deep into injury time.
Adrian Ramos had given Hertha a fourth-minute lead and Pizarro levelled in the 23th minute
Still, Hertha, who played the last half hour with nine men, was on track to hold Bremen to a 1-1 draw until Pizarro headed home at the far post in the 93rd minute.
The win puts Werder second in the table two points behind leaders Bayern Munich.
Munich unstoppable
Bayer Leverukusen joined an increasing number of teams on Saturday to have failed to put a goal past Bayern Munich goalie Manuel Neuer this season.
Bayern defeated Leverkusen 3-0 at home, retaining their spot at the top of the Bundesliga.
"We were dominant throughout and scored at the right times," said Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes.
"I never had the feeling that we could lose today. Leverkusen never really believed in themselves," he said as Bayern prepare to host Manchester City in the Champions League next week.
Thomas Mueller and Daniel van Buyten took Bayern to a 2-0 first-half lead. This was then followed by last minute-goal in the 90th minute from Arjen Robbin, making his first appearance after returning from injury.
Manuel Neuer has kept a clean sheet in six league matches and nine games overall.
"I am very happy to get back into such a strong team. It is normal that you start on the bench after being out for four weeks," Robben, who came on in the 78th minute, told Sky TV.
Topping the table
In Saturday's other games, Borussia Mönchengladbach temporarily dislodged Bayern three hours earlier clinching a 1-0 win over Nuremburg.
Reigning champions Borussia Dortmund clinched a 2-1 win in Mainz and Schalke beat Freiburg 4-2, two days after the surprise resignation of coach Ralf Rangnick.
Meanwhile Augsburg held Hannover to a 0-0 draw. Wolfsburg won 1-0 against Kaiserslautern and Munich who top the Bundesliga with 18 points are now two points clear of Mönchengladbach, the only team to score against Munich in a 1-0 upset in the opening round.
Werder Bremen are third with 13 points ahead of Sunday's game with Hertha Berlin.
Hoffenheim. Schalke and Hanover have 12 points each, while Dortmund are eighth with 10 points.
Author: Charlotte Chelsom-Pill (dpa, AFP)
Editor: Kyle James