Freiburg stay bottom, Dortmund regain top Bundisliga spot

05 February 2012 18:16

Freiburg remain rooted to the bottom of the German league despite their 2-2 draw with Werder Bremen on Sunday while at the other end, Borussia Dortmund finish the weekend top of the league.

Bremen's Peru striker Claudio Pizarro netted either side of half-time to give him 15 goals from 18 games this season as Werder stay fifth in the league, but there is an eight-point gap up to Moenchengladbach in fourth.

The 33-year-old Pizarro put Bremen ahead on 29 minutes, but a header from Congo midfielder Cedrick Makiadi just three minutes later put Freiburg level at the break.

The second-half was barely two minutes old when Pizarro netted his second, but the hosts again got back on level terms when 21-year-old French midfielder Jonathan Schmid scored his first German league goal on 70 minutes.

Things are tight at the bottom of the league with just three points separating the last four teams, while it is the same situation at the top with Dortmund on 43 points and Moenchengladbach fourth with 40.

Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes was relaxed despite the Bavarians losing top spot in the German league after they drew 1-1 at Hamburg.

Champions Borussia Dortmund are back on top after their 2-0 win at Nuremberg on Friday, but both Bayern and third-placed Schalke are hard on their heels with 41 points each.

After Hamburg's Italian 20-year-old midfielder Jacopo Sala headed Hamburg into the lead on 23 minutes on Saturday, Bayern's blushes were spared when Croatia striker Ivica Olic equalised just minutes after coming off the bench.

"I?m satisfied with my players? determination, attitude and concentration, but we came here to win," said Heynckes, whose team play FC Basel in the first-leg of their Round of 16 Champions League clash on February 22.

"We?re a little short of confidence.

"We?d rather be top of the table of course, but it all doesn?t mean much at this stage."

Dortmund deserved to go top after grinding out an impressive win at Nuremberg as temperatures reached minus 11 Celsius on Friday night with captain Sebastian Kehl and striker Lucas Barrios providing the goals.

The win looks to have come at a cost as midfieler Sven Bender - who has only recently returned from breaking his jaw at Arsenal last November - damaged ankle ligaments, while Kehl has a foot injury.

Schalke 04 are third after their 1-1 draw with Mainz 05 on Saturday.

The guests took a shock lead when Egypt striker Mohamed Zidan, who signed from Schalke's deadly rivals Dortmund during January's transfer window, scored after just 15 minutes on his Mainz debut.

The Royal Blues got back on level terms when Nigeria striker Chinedu Obasi, who is on loan from Hoffenheim, netted in the 59th minute.

Moenchengladbach remain fourth after they were held to a goalless draw at Wolfsburg.

Sixth-placed Leverkusen, who host holders Barcelona in the Champions League Round of 16 first-leg tie on February 14, were held to a 2-2 draw at home by mid-table Stuttgart after an 89th-minute equaliser from Austria striker Martin Harnik.

Leverkusen will be without midfielder Sidney Sam for two months after he tore his thigh muscle, while Swiss forward Eren Derdiyok is out for the next three weeks after he cut his foot stepping on broken glass.

At the bottom of the table, second-from-bottom Augsburg produced a brave performance to draw 2-2 at Hoffenheim, while Hanover are seventh after their 1-0 win at Hertha Berlin.

Source: AFP