Dortmund draw gives Leverkusen hope
Saturday, April 9, 2011
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A late goal from Jakub Błaszczykowski saved Borussia Dortmund from defeat at Hamburger SV, though their lead will be as narrow as five points if Bayer 04 Leverkusen win on Sunday.
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Borussia Dortmund's once sizeable lead at the Bundesliga summit could be down to five points come Sunday evening after Jürgen Klopp's team drew 1-1 with Hamburger SV.
Ruud van Nistelrooy's 39th-minute penalty, awarded for Mats Hummels' foul on Mladen Petrić, appeared to be condemning the pacesetters to their second defeat in four games until Jakub Błaszczykowski equalised in added time. Dortmund were 12 points clear of Leverkusen, who host strugglers FC St Pauli on Sunday, at the beginning of March.
Hannover 96 strengthened their UEFA Champions League hopes with a 2-0 home win against fifth-placed 1. FSV Mainz 05 which lifted them into third at the expense of FC Bayern München. Didier Ya Konan set Hannover on their way from the spot – seconds after he had been fouled by Nikolce Noveski, who was sent off – before Sergio Pinto (59) made the points safe. Bayern had Arjen Robben dismissed in a 1-1 draw at 1. FC Nürnberg.
FC Schalke 04 finished off a fine week with a 1-0 home triumph against VfL Wolfsburg, José Manuel Jurado scoring 14 minutes from time, and ten-man SC Freiburg recovered from 2-1 down to defeat TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 3-2. VfB Stuttgart remain just two points above the relegation zone after squandering a 2-1 lead in a 4-2 loss to 1. FC Kaiserslautern in the late match.
