Bayern and Schalke continue ascent

FC Bayern München won 5-1 away to VfL Bochum 1848 on Saturday to put the seal on a memorable week and move up to third in the Bundesliga ahead of Werder Bremen after they were beaten at home by second-placed FC Schalke 04.

Two for Olić
Fielding the same team which won 4-1 at Juventus in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, Bayern took the lead through Germany striker Mario Gómez, who has now scored in the last four league matches, before Mergim Mavraj's own goal doubled their lead. Croatia striker Ivica Olić added two more either side of half-time and Danijel Pranjić made it 5-0 before Bochum registered through Christian Fuchs.

Leaders Leverkusen
Bayern's victory takes them up to 30 points from 16 games, two behind leaders Bayer 04 Leverkusen following their 2-2 draw at Hertha BSC Berlin on Friday and one adrift of a Schalke side who triumphed at the Weserstadion thanks to second-half goals from Kevin Kuranyi and a Jan Moravek shot which deflected in off Per Mertesacker.

Run ended
Their 23-match unbeaten run over, Bremen drop to fourth on 28 points along with Hamburger SV after Bruno Labbadia's side kept up the pressure by beating 1. FC Nürnberg 4-0 away. TSG 1899 Hoffenheim are three points further back in sixth after their scoreless draw with Eintracht Frankfurt. SC Freiburg-1. FC Köln finished goalless, although VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach- Hannover 96 certainly did not as three own goals helped the home team to a 5-3 success.