Germany round-up: Dortmund defeat Bayern

BV Borussia Dortmund secured their first victory against FC Bayern München for eight years with a 1-0 success in the Westfalenstadion.

Comfortable gap
Despite suffering a second successive league defeat, having lost 1-0 at home to SV Werder Bremen last Saturday, Bayern remained eleven points clear at the top of the standings, although second-placed VfB Stuttgart can close the gap to eight with a victory at VfL Bochum 1848. Dortmund stayed in third place, a point behind Stuttgart.

Decisive penalty
In a tight game, there were few goalscoring opportunities, with Dortmund substitute Marcio Amoroso scoring the only goal of the game from the penalty spot after 61 minutes, when Bayern midfield player Niko Kovac was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area.

Hertha win
Hertha BSC Berlin consolidated their challenge for a European place and remained fourth in the standings with a narrow 1-0 win at FC Hansa Rostock. Arne Friedrich scored the only goal of the game five minutes into the second period.

Hamburg held
Hamburger SV remained in fifth place as defender Milan Fukal's 65th-minute equaliser cancelled out Martin Max’s 36th-minute opening goal to earn a 1-1 draw at TSV 1860 München. Sixth-placed FC Schalke 04 travel to struggling Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Sunday in a crucial game for both teams.

Bremen blow
Bremen were unable to take advantage, however, as Marino Biliskov scored what proved to be the winning goal four minutes from time to give VfL Wolfsburg a narrow 1-0 away win.

Important win
At the bottom of the table, Hannover 96 ended 1. FC Kaiserslautern's 12-game unbeaten run with a 2-1 victory. The away team took the lead after eleven minutes as defender Tomasz Klos found the net, but Hannover came back well in the second period as Nebojsa Krupnikovic made it 1-1 four minutes after half-time. Fredi Bobic put Hannover in front on the hour, and the home side held on despite the 72nd-minute dismissal of Marc van Hintum.

Draws for bottom two
The bottom two sides were both held, as 1. FC Nürnberg's home game with DSC Arminia Bielefled ended goalless, with Nürnberg's David Jarolim and Benjamin Lense of Bielefeld both sent off, and FC Energie Cottbus drew 1-1 with VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach. Moussa Latoundji gave Energie an early lead but Marcelo Pletsch secured Mönchengaldbach a draw eight minutes from time.