Germany round-up: Further trouble for Leverkusen

Bayer 04 Leverkusen slipped deeper into relegation trouble as they lost 2-1 at VfL Bochum 1848 in the 1. Bundesliga.

Relegation threat
Last season’s league runners-up dropped to fourth bottom in the standings following the defeat, and could slip into the relegation zone as the side immediately below them, VfL Borussia Mönchengaldbach, are just a point behind and have a game in hand.

Two for Hashemian
Leverkusen went behind at Bochum to a goal from Iranian striker Vahid Hashemian, who opened the scoring in the 68th minute, shortly after he had been introduced as a substitute. Croatian midfield player Marko Babic seemed to have rescued a valuable point for the away side when he equalised ten minutes on, but Hashemian struck again just before time to condemn Leverkusen to a third consecutive league defeat.

Toppmöller under pressure
The result increases the pressure on Leverkusen coach Klaus Toppmöller, who has come in for criticism since the German league restarted after the winter break, and whose side squeezed past amateur team SpVgg Unterhaching in the German Cup in midweek only after a penalty shoot-out.
 
Crucial win
Hannover 96 moved above Leverkusen with a 4-2 home win against 1. FC Nürnberg, with Mohammadou Idrissou getting a first-half hat-trick. The Cameroonian striker opened the scoring after ten minutes, before two goals in quick succession midway through the first period all but sealed three important points for Hannover.

Second-half goals
Junior pulled a goal back for Nürnberg before half-time, and Sasa Ciric brought the away side right back into the game when he made it 3-2 eight minutes into the second period, but Danijel Stefulj’s goal twenty minutes from time gave the home team what proved to be a decisive two-goal cushion.

Kaiserslautern off the bottom
There were differing fortunes for other struggling sides, as 1. FC Kaiserslautern moved off the bottom of the table with a 2-0 home win against Mönchengladbach through goals from Aleksander Knavs and Miroslav Klose. FC Energie Cottbus slipped to bottom place as they were held to a scoreless draw at FC Hansa Rostock, who lost Rade Prica to a late red card.

Missed chance for Bremen
At the other end of the table, SV Werder Bremen slipped to a 2-1 home defeat by TSV 1860 München despite going ahead through Ivan Klasnic on the stroke of half-time. However, second-half goals from Benjamin Lauth and Daniel Borimirov turned the game on its head and secured a win for the away side that ensured Bremen remained third.

Schalke lose
Elsewhere, fifth-placed FC Schalke 04 lost 4-2 at Hertha BSC Berlin, while VfL Wolfsburg secured a 2-0 home win over DSC Arminia Bielefeld.

Sunday games
On Sunday, leaders FC Bayern München are at home to Hamburger SV, while champions BV Borussia Dortmund visit VfB Stuttgart.