1. FSV Mainz 05 and Hannover 96 both spurned the chance to move third in the Bundesliga, with the former beaten 4-2 at 1. FC Köln and the latter held to a 1-1 draw at struggling SV Werder Bremen.

The two sides were aiming to replace FC Bayern München in the top three, but Mainz were in trouble as early as the third minute in Cologne as Lukas Podolski opened the scoring. Sami Allagui levelled just beyond the half-hour, only for Köln to pull ahead again through Milivoje Novakovič (43), who doubled his tally on 60 minutes, shortly after another Podolski effort (55). A late Petar Sliskovic strike proved insufficient to deny the hosts a win that lifted them to 13th.

Mainz are down to fifth, one spot below Hannover, who were at least able to collect a point in Bremen. They had hoped for more after Didier Konan Ya found the net on 26 minutes, but the hosts equalised via Per Mertesacker five minutes after the break.

Results

Standings

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