Newz Forum: SOCCER: German Bundesliga results 11/12/04

Bayern Munich earned the purely honorary title of "winter champions" on Saturday as their 2-2 draw with third-placed Stuttgart proved sufficient to ensure they stay top of the Bundesliga during the winter break.

Bayern were trailing 2-0 after 65 minutes with Stuttgart in control thanks to goals from Silvio Meissner and Kevin Kuranyi. However, goals from Peruvian pair Claudio Pizarro and Paulo Guerrero snatched a share of the points for Bayern and saved face for Bayern coach Felix Magath who jumped ship from Stuttgart at the end of last season


The Bavarian giants are level on points but have a superior goal difference to Schalke who missed out on that accolade when they were held 1-1 by Freiburg in Gelsenkirchen. Mladen Krstajic put Schalke in the lead only for Roda Antar to equalise for Freiburg four minutes from time.


Champions Werder Bremen were also held 1-1 by Kaiserslautern, who took the lead through Carsten Jancker before Tim Borowski equalised. Werder's Paul Stalteri, who was tugging on the shirt of Jancker, picked up his second booking and was sent off in stoppage time.


Nurnberg picked up a 1-0 win at Mainz with Markus Schroth supplying the goal after 10 minutes.


Hansa Rostock finally picked up their first home point of the season as they held Borussia Dortmund 1-1. Swedish international Marcus Allback put Rostock ahead but an equaliser from Sebastian Kehl ensured honours were shared although at least Rostock end their record-breaking home losing streak of eight matches. Christoph Metzelder came on as a 69th-minute replacement for Ahmed Madouni for Dortmund. Metzelder, who represented Germany in the 2002 World Cup final, had not played for his club since March 2003 because of persistent Achilles problems but he managed 45 minutes for Dortmund's amateur team before making a surprise return to the big time on Saturday.


Hertha Berlin ensured a happy Christmas with a 1-0 win at Hannover earned by Nando Rafael.


Bochum coach Peter Neurerer must be worried about his prospects after a 2-1 home defeat by Hamburg who raced into a two-goal lead through Sergej Barbarez and Collin Benjamin before Tommy Bachmann scored a consolation.

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