Hertha draw with Wolves to break losing streak

Bundesliga bottom club Hertha Berlin earned their first league point since the opening day of the season when they held defending German champions Wolfsburg to a goalless draw at home on Sunday.

Hertha had lost all eight league games since beating Hanover 1-0 at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium on August 8 and new coach Friedhelm Funkel picked up his first point in charge since replacing Lucien Favre, but his side are still four points from safety.

“That was a very important point for us,” said Berlin captain Arne Friedrich.

“We are on the right path now, but we have to keep working and it was important to not concede any goals.”

Wolfsburg created several chances with midfielder Ashkan Dejagah as their most potent player, who enjoyed several opportunities to break the deadlock either side of half-time, but Hertha worked hard for their point.

Brazilian striker Grafite – the league’s top-scorer last season – was left on the bench for Wolfsburg again with Obafemi Martins partnering Edin Dzeko up front.

Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio kept his side in the game with a reflex save from Hertha midfielder Gojko Kacar who smashed his volley just inside the near post on 75 minutes while Raffael went close in the dying stages.

On Saturday, Belgian defender Daniel Van Buyten made amends for his dismissal at Bordeaux in midweek by heading a late winner for Bayern Munich in a 2-1 home win over Eintracht Frankfurt to go fifth in the table.

The centre-back saw red in France last Wednesday in the 2-1 defeat to Bordeaux in the Champions League, but he came off the bench to score with a crucial 88th-minute header as the German giants came from behind.

Eintracht took the lead at Bayern’s Allianz Arena when midfielder Alexander Meier timed his run through Munich’s offside trap to perfection and latched onto a pass from Patrick Ochs on 60 minutes before firing home.

Bayern welcomed back play-maker Robben after three weeks out with a knee injury and the Dutchman marked his return with the equaliser on 70 minutes before van Buyten struck.

Hoffenheim moved up to sixth after enjoying an impressive 3-0 win at home to Nuremberg and Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel is under increasing pressure after his side lost 1-0 at Hanover to drop to 14th in the table.

Mainz are eighth after a 3-0 win at Freiburg while Cologne were held 0-0 at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach.

On Friday, league leaders Leverkusen were held to a 1-1 draw at home to midtable Borussia Dortmund with ex-Germany defender Manuel Friedrich heading a second-half equaliser for the hosts.

Hamburg have the chance to go top if they win at Schalke 04 on Sunday evening.