Germany: Bayern retain momentum at top

FC Bayern München were forced into a late kit change but still cruised to a 2-0 win over 1. FC Köln on Saturday to retain their place atop Germany’s 1. Bundesliga.

Late kick-off
The match started ten minutes late after the European champions, who arrived with a red kit similar to their hosts, had to pull on sleeveless white training shirts without numbers and names. Peruvian striker Claudio Pizarro was Bayern’s hero, opening the scoring with a header from a Michael Tarnat cross in the 27th minute, before exploiting a blunder by the Köln defence to wrap it up 20 minutes from time.

Brazilian dismissed
Bayern stay one point ahead of second-placed Bayer 04 Leverkusen, who won 4-1 at TSV 1860 München, despite having Brazilian defender Lucio sent off in the second half. Leverkusen remain the only undefeated Bundesliga side after 11 games, but they fell behind when veteran midfielder Thomas Hässler fired 1860 ahead in the 31st minute.

Dying moments
The visitors equalised two minutes later when 1860 defender Torben Hoffmann put the ball into his own net under pressure from Ulf Kirsten. Leverkusen looked sluggish and woke up only after Lucio received his marching orders for protesting at a refereeing decision in the 68th minute. Argentinian defender Diego Placente (78) and midfielder Bernd Schneider (84) had already put the issue beyond doubt when German international striker Oliver Neuville sealed victory from the penalty spot in the dying moments of the game.

Dropped points
Third-placed 1. FC Kaiserslautern fell three points behind the leaders as they were held to a goalless draw at home to FC Schalke 04.

Borussia hopes alive
BV Borussia Dortmund, now lying fourth, kept their title challenge alive after goals from Lars Ricken and Brazilian striker Marcio Amoroso had given them a 2-0 win at FC Energie Cottbus. Both strikes came in the last 12 minutes of the match.

Sealed the points
VfB Stuttgart are up to fifth in the table after a 2-0 victory over ten-man FC St Pauli. Christian Tiffert put the home side in front in the 11th minute and, after Jochen Kientz was dismissed, Jochen Endress sealed the three points with an injury-time strike.

Points shared
A late Marcel Witeczek goal secured VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach a share of the points in a 2-2 draw with SC Freiburg. The home team were on the back foot from the moment Sebastian Kehl put an inventive Freiburg side ahead in the third minute. Although they levelled through a Peter van Houdt penalty six minutes later, Adel Sellimi restored the visitors' lead in the 64th minute. However, Witeczek had the last word for Mönchengladbach.

Solitary goal
In today's remaining game, Marco Bode got the solitary goal 12 minutes from time to keep SV Werder Bremen on the heels of the leaders in seventh place following their victory over VfL Wolfsburg.