Strugglers Cologne stun Wolfsburg

Bundesliga strugglers Cologne earned their second win in three games on Sunday after inflicting a shock 3-2 defeat on defending champions Wolfsburg, who have now gone seven league games without a win.

With striker Lukas Podolski missing with a back injury, Cologne showed they can do without their Germany star and managed to defend for all they were worth to hold on at the Volkswagen Arena and claim the three points.

The defeat leaves Wolfsburg coach Armin Veh under immense pressure and it remains to be seen whether he will be in charge for their next game at Hamburg on Friday.

Cologne took the lead when midfielder Kevin Pezzoni slipped his marker after seven minutes to head home, but Wolfsburg fought back when Christian Gentner levelled after only 21 minutes.

Cologne striker Sebastian Freis then managed to hold off the challenge of two defenders and the goalkeeper to slot his shot into the back of the net on 57 minutes.

The home side responded immediately when Portugal defender Ricardo Costa hit the back of the net on 59 minutes.

But Cologne were not to be denied only their fifth win of the season when Fries played Adil Chihi into space and he drilled his shot past Wolfsburg goalkeeper Andre Lenz on 74 minutes.

The result leaves Wolfsburg 10th and Cologne 13th, but shouts of “Veh out!” will not have been ignored by the Wolves coach who is now looking in danger of losing his job.

Leverkusen have the chance to go back to the top of the Bundesliga on Sunday if they beat Hoffenheim after Bayern Munich won 3-2 at Werder Bremen which put them top of the Bundesliga on Saturday.

An eighth consecutive win in all competitions, and their sixth in the Bundesliga, has put Bayern top of the league with a single-point advantage before Sunday night’s game.

Goals by rising star Thomas Mueller and Croatia striker Ivica Olic put Bayern in control before Dutch star Arjen Robben unleashed a direct free-kick from 20 metres out which left Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese with no chance.

An injury time goal from Bochum’s Slovakia striker Stanislav Sestak robbed Schalke of the chance to go top as the Royal Blues were held 2-2.

The result left Felix Magath-coached Schalke third in the table and Borussia Dortmund are up to fourth in the table after their 1-0 win at home to Hamburg on Saturday evening.

Having picked up only their second win of the season last weekend, bottom side Hertha Berlin were held 0-0 at home by Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Having taken over from Andreas Bergmann as coach last week, new Hanover boss Mirko Slomka got off to a losing start when his side were beaten 1-0 at mid-table Mainz – their eighth game without a win – which leaves them 16th.