Hunt´s late goal puts Bremen top

Werder Bremen have striker Aaron Hunt to thank for his two second-half goals which salvaged a point at Nuremberg as the 2-2 draw put his side top of the Bundesliga on Saturday.

With second-placed Leverkusen at fourth-placed Schalke 04 on Saturday night, both sides have the chance to take over the lead, but Hunt’s pair of goals lifted Thomas Schaaf’s side into first place on Saturday afternoon.

They are top only by virtue of goal difference with Leverkusen and Hamburg also on 22 points, but Hunt’s second goal in the second minute of injury time meant Schaaf’s side leapt over Hamburg and Leverkusen into top place.

Hamburg were robbed of the chance of going top of the German league for the second consecutive match after mid-table Borussia Moenchengladbach poached a shock 3-2 win in the Hanseatic city.

After Schalke’s Kevin Kuranyi scored a late header last Sunday to seal a 3-3 draw at Hamburg, Borussia again spoiled Hamburg’s party as Canada striker Rob Friend hit a 82nd-minute winner.

Hamburg had forged a 2-1 lead midway through the second half after goals by Germany winger Piotr Trochowski and a free-kick by Brazil midfielder Ze Roberto.

But a header from Brazil defender Dante put them level on 76 minutes with a header before Friend hit the winner with time running out to leave Hamburg third.

Stuttgart coach Marakus Babbel boosted his chances of holding onto his job after his side held German giants Bayern Munich to a 0-0 draw in Stuttgart.

Babbel’s side were dumped out of the German Cup last Tuesday at Greuther Fuerth, their fifth consecutive defeat, but the ex-Bayern Munich midfielder received a vote of confidence from his board on Wednesday.

And having broken his losing streak, Babbel’s fortunes appear to be looking up.

Defending champions Wolfsburg threw away a 2-0 lead after two goals from Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins only for mid-table Mainz produced a spirited comeback and defender Tim Hoogland hit an 86th-minute equaliser to take a point and seal a 3-3 draw.

Cologne are hovering above the relegation zone after their 1-0 defeat at home to midtable Hanover.

Hertha Berlin remained rooted to the bottom of the Bundesliga after they were beaten 2-0 by Borussia Dortmund on Friday night and remain four points adrift of the rest of the league.