Hoffenheim go clear at top of Bundesliga
Hoffenheim’s dream first season in the Bundesliga continues to get better as they moved three points clear at the top with a 3-1 win at Cologne this afternoon.
The league newcomers had begun the day level on points with Bayer Leverkusen, but now have daylight over their rivals who lost 2-1 at lowly Arminia Bielefeld.
The league’s leading scorer, Vedad Ibisevic, netted twice, with Demba Ba also on target. Petit replied in a game which saw Cologne’s Kevin McKenna and Hoffenheim’s Luiz Gustavo sent off.
Leverkusen’s six-game unbeaten run was ended as Artur Wichniarek (53) and substitute Daniel Halfar (68) netted before Patrick Helmes – who scored his first Germany goal in the 2-1 defeat to England in midweek – replied.
Bayern Munich’s steady rise up the table continues as they came from behind to beat bottom club Energie Cottbus 4-1, while Hertha Berlin reclaimed fourth place after they withstood a Bochum comeback to win 3-2.
Eintracht Frankfurt were the biggest winners of the day as they thumped Hannover 4-0, while Schalke bounced back from two tough defeats to ease past Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1 at home.
Wolfsburg were also handsome winners as they came from behind to defeat Stuttgart 4-1.
