Stuttgart stay out in front

VfB Stuttgart have a two-point cushion at the top of the Bundesliga after a 2-0 victory against struggling Eintracht Frankfurt.

Victory sealed
Imre Szabics put Stuttgart ahead in the eight minute, and German international Kevin Kuranyi sealed the win midway through the second half. Eintracht's Albanian defender Geri Cipi and Stuttgart's Fernando Meira were sent off near the end, but the leaders' unbeaten start stretched to 12 games.

Bremen climb
With Bayer 04 Leverkusen meeting FC Schalke 04 on Sunday, SV Werder Bremen moved up to second as they beat Hannover 96 5-1. Teenage striker Nelson Valdez scored on eight and 37 minutes, and Ivan Klasnic added another to put visitors Bremen in control before the break. Jirí Stajner pulled one back ten minutes after half-time, but Kasnic and Fabian Ernst scored late goals to extend the lead.

Bochum in form
FC Bayern München and BV Borussia Dortmund also play tomorrow, so VfL Bochum 1848 moved between those two sides into fifth by beating new basement team 1. FC Köln. Vahid Hashemian, Peter Madsen, Raymond Kalla all struck before half-time, and Miroslav Stevic confirmed the win in the 87th minute.

Di Salvo double
That result allowed FC Hansa Rostock to move out of last place with a comprehensive 4-0 victory against 1. FC Kaiserslautern. René Rydlewicz scored on the quarter-hour and Antonio di Salvo struck on 22 and 33 minutes to put the game beyond Kaiserslautern, who then had Lucien Mettomo dismissed before the break. Martin Max claimed the fourth eleven minutes from time,

Madlung winner
VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach could not escape the bottom three, though, as they lost 2-1 at Hertha BSC Berlin - Vaclav Sverkos's early goal cancelled out by the home side's Luizão, and Alexander Madlung clinching the win four minutes from the end. The visitors' Lawrence Aidoo and Hertha's Marcelinho were sent off in added time.

Iashvili hat-trick
Elsewhere, an Alexander Iashvili hat-trick lifted SC Freiburg to ninth with a 3-2 win at home to VfL Wolfsburg, and Hamburger SV moved away from the lower reaches of the table as they overcame TSV 1860 München 3-1.