Leverkusen lose ground in Bayern pursuit
Sunday, December 9, 2012
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen trail Bundesliga leaders FC Bayern München by 11 points after losing 3-2 at Hannover 96, while VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach won at home against 1. FSV Mainz 05.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen are 11 points adrift of FC Bayern München at the top of the Bundesliga after losing an exciting five-goal contest at Hannover 96.
Leverkusen's prospects seemed bright when Gonzalo Castro handed his side an early lead, but the teams could not be separated at the break after Szabolcs Huszti equalised from the spot. Mame Diouf and Stefan Kiessling then traded goals in a frantic two-minute period just before the hour-mark, and Huszti had the final word with a second penalty 21 minutes from time.
Elsewhere, it was a good weekend for Hannover and Leverkusen's fellow UEFA Europa League round of 32 participants VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach, who defeated 1. FSV Mainz 05 2-0 at Borussia-Park. After a goalless first half, Lucien Favre's charges swept into the lead with two goals in five minutes midway through the second period. Mike Hanke and Juan Arango were the men to do the damage, meaning Gladbach are now unbeaten in their last four Bundesliga matches.
