Leverkusen top despite Schalke slip
Saturday 31 October 2009
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On a day to forget for many of the Bundesliga's top sides, new leaders Bayer 04 Leverkusen let a two-goal lead slip as FC Schalke 04 scored twice in the final seven minutes to earn a 2-2 draw at the Arena Auf Schalke.
Late drama
With Hamburger SV falling to a surprise defeat at home to VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach and Werder Bremen, FC Bayern München and VfL Wolfsburg all failing to win, Jupp Heyncke's side were on course to pull three points clear at the top of the Bundesliga after Toni Kroos (29) and Stefan Kiessling (44), with his league-leading seventh goal, had fired the visiting side 2-0 up at the break. Felix Magath's Schalke, however, are mounting a surprise title challenge of their own and they continued their excellent recent run thanks to late goals from the in-form Kevin Kuranyi (83) and a Vicente Sánchez header (88).
Leverkusen top
The draw was still enough to move Leverkusen to the top of the table, a point clear of Hamburg who lost for the first time in the Bundesliga and have now not won in three league games after falling 3-2 at home to Mönchengladbach. Piotr Trochowski gave HSV a 13th-minute lead but Marco Reus hit back six minutes before the break and though Zé Roberto restored the home side's advantage two minutes after the restart, late goals from Dante (76) and substitute Rob Friend (82) sent them to defeat.
Hunt double
Elsewhere, Aaron Hunt scored twice as Bremen came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at 1. FC Nürnberg, the equaliser coming in the second minute of added time. The result ended a run of four straight Bundesliga victories for Bremen who remain unbeaten in the league since the first day of the season. VfB Stuttgart held Bayern to a goalless draw as Marcus Babbel's struggling side arrested a run of five straight defeats in all competitions, while champions Wolfsburg squandered a 2-0 lead before being forced to settle for 3-3 draw at home to 1. FSV Mainz 05. Hannover 96 beat 1. FC Köln 1-0 in the day's other match while on Friday night BV Borussia Dortmund were 2-0 winners over bottom side Hertha BSC Berlin.
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