Hamburg were held 1-1 at VfL Bochum on Sunday to miss out on fourth in the Bundesliga, while Bayern Munich went second in the table over the weekend to set up a key clash with league leaders Hoffenheim on Friday.
A goal from Bochum’s Slovakia striker Stanislav Sestak in the 39th minute shocked Martin Jol-coached Hamburg, before the guests were rescued by striker Ivica Olic who slotted home 20 minutes from time.
The draw keeps the north German club fifth in the table, while Bochum are three from the bottom, but they just missed out on a deserved win when Sestak hit the post in the last 10 minutes.
PHOTO: AP
“We have a young squad, but they still have much to learn,” Jol said. “We had to play catch-up in the second half, we had our chances, but so did Bochum. To that extent, we have to be happy with the one point.”
Former Germany defender Markus Babbel enjoyed a winning start to his tenure as VfB Stuttgart coach when as his side picked up their first win in six games with a 2-0 victory over Schalke 04 to leave his side 10th in the table.
“That cost me a few nerves,” Babbel said. “Particularly in the first half, we were not organized. In the second half, things got better and we took our chances.”
Former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann saved a 16th minute penalty from Schalke’s Peru striker Jefferson Farfan to keep the scores level with his side badly in need of league points.
With time running out, Czech Republic midfielder Jan Simak lobbed Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer 11 minutes from time to put Stuttgart ahead, before Germany striker Mario Gomez made the result safe with a late strike on 83 minutes.
It gives Babbel a confidence boosting win, having succeeded Armin Veh as head coach last weekend.
Borussia Dortmund and Wolfsburg also battled away to a 0-0 draw.
German Bundesliga
Team | P | GD | PTS | |
1 | TSG Hoffenheim | 15 | 20 | 34 |
2 | Bayern Munich | 15 | 14 | 31 |
3 | Hertha Berlin | 15 | 4 | 30 |
4 | Bayer Leverkusen | 15 | 13 | 28 |
5 | Hamburg | 15 | 0 | 27 |
6 | Borussia Dortmund | 15 | 7 | 25 |
7 | Werder Bremen | 15 | 11 | 23 |
8 | Wolfsburg | 15 | 10 | 23 |
9 | Schalke 04 | 15 | 7 | 23 |
10 | VfB Stuttgart | 15 | 0 | 21 |
11 | Cologne | 15 | -6 | 19 |
12 | Eintrach Frankfurt | 15 | -9 | 16 |
13 | Hannover 96 | 15 | -11 | 16 |
14 | Arminia Bielefeld | 15 | -12 | 12 |
15 | Cottbus | 15 | -14 | 12 |
16 | VfL Bochum | 15 | -6 | 11 |
17 | Borussia M’gladbach | 15 | -14 | 11 |
18 | Karlsruhe | 15 | -14 | 10 |
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