Germany round-up: Ballack double boosts Bayern

Two goals for Michael Ballack saw FC Bayern München overcome Hertha BSC Berlin on Saturday, while BV Borussia Dortmund got back to winning ways.

Ballack makes sure
The German international midfield player opened the scoring for Bayern at the Olympiastadion with a strike from the edge of the penalty area five minutes from half-time, and made sure of the victory from the penalty spot after Hertha's Marko Rehmer hauled down Roque Santa Cruz after 71 minutes.

Dortmund triumph
With this morning's second-placed side, TSV Werder Bremen, not in action until Sunday, Dortmund took the opportunity to climb back into second with a 2-1 win at 1. FC Nürnberg. The home side took the lead through Czech midfield player David Jarolim after just three minutes, but Matthias Sammer's side rallied after half-time with goals from Lars Ricken and Brazilian striker Ewerthon.

Drama in Cottbus
The most exciting game of the day saw TSV 1860 München emerge as 4-3 winners at FC Energie Cottbus despite an incredible late comeback. Benjamin Lauth opened the scoring after 38 minutes and two goals for Markus Schroth either side of a Markus Weissenberger effort gave 1860 a 4-0 lead with ten minutes remaining.

Late revival
However, Marko Topic's 80th-minute effort for Cottbus sparked and extraordinary late rally and when Radoslaw Kaluzny and Paulo Rink scored within a minute of each other with four minutes remaining, 1860 were on the verge of seeing all of their hard work come to nothing until the final whistle saved them.

Relief for Kaiserslautern
The result leaves 1860 in fifth place while Cottbus are now bottom after 1. FC Kaiserslautern finally saw a glimmer of light in dark times with a 2-0 win against VfL Wolfsburg. Vratislav Lokvenc opened the scoring after 15 minutes, and Lincoln repeated the feat 15 minutes after the break to earn a rare win.

Defeat for Leverkusen
However, times are still hard for UEFA Champions League contenders Bayer 04 Leverkusen who followed up their midweek home loss to FC Barcelona with a 3-2 defeat at home against Hamburger SV. Two goals for Hamburg's Bernardo Romeo either side of efforts from Hanno Balitsch and Yildiray Bastürk had left the game tightly poised until Sergej Barbarez scored the winner for Hamburg.

Prica seals win
In today's other games, two goals from Rade Prica earned FC Hansa Rostock a win against VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach. A 38th-minute Igor Demo penalty had cancelled out Marco Vorbeck's early opened for Hansa until Prica struck twice in ten second-half minutes to steer his side to victory.

Bochum in command
VfL Bochum 1848 secured a more emphatic victory against DSC Arminia Bielefeld, with a third-minute goal from Benjamin Lense opening the way to a 3-0 win for the home side. A Christian Vander own goal nine minutes after half time calmed Bochum's nerves before a Mamadou Diabang effort four minutes from time completed the rout.