Own-goal denies Dortmund third, Bayern stay top

Hoffenheim earned a 1-1 draw at Dortmund Sunday after defender Mats Hummels scored an own-goal to rob the home side of the chance to go third behind Bayern Munich.

Hummels’ 89th-minute strike broke Dortmund hearts and saw his side miss out on claiming third behind Schalke 04, who are bidding for their first Bundesliga title, while Bayern remained top after blasting Hanover 7-0 on Saturday.

After last weekend’s shock 1-0 defeat to Mainz, Dortmund were heading for a win when striker Nelson Valdez met a cross at the far post on 57 minutes and beat Hoffenheim’s ex-Germany goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand.

But Dortmund were hit with a sucker punch when Hummels stabbed a cross from Hoffenheim’s Carlos Eduardo into his own net with full-time almost up to leave his side fifth in the table, but amongst the European places for next season.

Later on Sunday, bottom-side Hertha Berlin will take a step closer to relegation if they lose at Eintracht Frankfurt.

On Saturday, Arjen Robben hit a hat-trick as Bayern Munich warmed up for their Champions League semi-final with Lyon by routing Hanover to go back to the top of the Bundesliga.

After Schalke had temporarily taken top spot in the German league, Bayern went back to the summit at Munich’s Allianz Arena thanks to Robben’s triple and two goals apiece from Ivica Olic and Thomas Mueller.

The result leaves Mirko Slomka-coached Hanover second from bottom with just three games left, while Bayern remain on course for their 22nd German title and will head into the first leg of their tie with Lyon on Wednesday in good heart.

Earlier, Schalke’s Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic netted twice in a 3-1 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach to leave the Royal Blues second, two points behind Bayern.

Ten-man Bayer Leverkusen are virtually out of the title race after they were beaten 2-1 at Stuttgart, with striker Stefan Kiessling netting for Bayer before Germany team-mate Cacau scored twice for the hosts.

Leverkusen were reduced to 10 men when Swiss midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta was dismissed after just 19 minutes for a second dangerous foul.

Cacau scored the equaliser and then smashed home the long-range winner on 85 minutes.

The result dumped Leverkusen down to fourth, seven points behind Schalke with just three games to play this season.

Werder Bremen went third as midfielder Torsten Frings showed Germany coach Joachim Loew what he is missing with two goals in his side’s 4-2 victory at defending champions Wolfsburg.

Loew has not selected Frings for the Germany team since February 2009 after the midfielder slammed him for not showing senior players in the German squad enough respect.

Hamburg were stunned 1-0 at home by mid-table Mainz while Freiburg gave themselves a fighting chance of staying in the Bundesliga with a 2-1 win over fellow relegation candidates Nuremberg.

The defeat leaves Freiburg 16th, the position that leads to a play-off to stay in the league, while Bochum and Nuremberg also have 28 points.

Cologne are now sure to stay in the Bundesliga after a 2-0 win over Bochum on Friday.