Stuttgart Go Top

VfB Stuttgart replaced Werder Bremen at the top of the Bundesliga with a 2-1 comeback win over Hanover on Sunday.

Bremen lost 3-1 to Borussia Dortmund on Friday to give their rivals a chance and Stuttgart took full advantage to reach the summit for the first time since October 2004.

"It is great to go top but we have to keep our feet on the ground as it is a long season," said Stuttgart goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand. "We have to build on this now and make sure we have a good season."

Hanover, who beat Bayern Munich 1-0 in midweek, took the lead after 13 minutes through Israeli midfielder Jan Rosenthal but Stuttgart showed great spirit and were ahead ten minutes into the second half.

German international Thomas Hitzlsperger equalized in the 49th minute and Brazilian forward Cacau added another five minutes later.

"Hanover played well but we knew we could come back and did just that," said Stuttgart coach Armin Veh. "If anything we should have scored a third goal."

Stuttgart, the surprise package of this season, are now top of the table leading Bremen and Schalke by one point. Reigning champions Bayern Munich are four points back in fourth.

Schalke heap more pain on woeful Mainz

Schalke were another title hopeful to take advantage of Bremen's slip crushing strugglers Mainz 05 4-0 on Saturday.

Former German international Kevin Kuranyi and Turkish striker Halil Altintop both scoring a brace to help the Gelsenkirchen club join Bremen on 23 points.

"We exploited the gaps very intelligently and scored some great goals," said Schalke coach Mirko Slomka. "We are delighted with the result and the performance. It is nice for both our strikers to score too as there is no better tonic for forwards than goals."

Bayern also capitalized on Bremen's defeat against Dortmund with a thrilling 3-2 win at Bayer Leverkusen.

Last-ditch Bayern back in step

The reigning champions looked to be heading for their second loss in a week, following their humiliating 1-0 home defeat to Hanover, with Brazilian Athirson putting Leverkusen ahead 2-1 in the 80th minute.

However Martin Demichelis leveled three minutes later and Peruvian striker Claudio Pizarro scored an 86th minute winner in a thrilling finale.

"Of course I am relieved. On Friday it looked like we would be nine points behind Bremen and now we are three points adrift," said Bayern coach Felix Magath. "We knew it would be a difficult season and it really has been. Now we just need to try and be at the top going into the winter break."

In contrast Leverkusen coach Michael Skibbe was furious at his team for throwing the game away in the final ten minutes. "I am so annoyed that we were not able to control the game at 2-1 and could not put it to bed," explained Skibbe.

Doll on borrowed time as Hamburg throw away points

At the wrong end of the table SV Hamburg manager Thomas Doll was left seething as his team drew 1-1 with Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Danijel Ljuboja scored on 66 minutes to put Hamburg ahead but Oliver Neuville equalized six minutes from time.

It was Doll's 100th game in charge and prior to the game there was speculation that defeat against Gladbach, who had lost all their other away matches, would cost him his job. A draw leaves Hamburg fourth from bottom and Doll's future remains unclear.

"A 1-1 is not enough as we wanted much more," admitted Doll. "It has been a bad week for us and we need to start cutting out the mistakes."