Hoffenheim profit from Bayern false start

[TAREK®]

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim are back on top in Germany, with goals from Demba Ba and new loan signing Boubacar Sanogo giving them a 2-0 win against FC Energie Cottbus, while a victory against Eintracht Frankfurt left Hertha BSC Berlin second.

Sanogo strikes
Hamburger SV had topped the table ahead of Saturday's fixtures, following their 1-0 win against champions FC Bayern München in the first Bundesliga game of 2009 on Friday. However, Hoffenheim swiftly toppled them with Senegalese striker Ba putting them ahead in the first half, scoring from close range after collecting a lofted ball in the box. Sanogo - signed on loan from Werder Bremen to replace injured top scorer Vedad Ibišević - added a second not long after the hour mark after chasing another high pass into the area and holding off two defenders.

Hertha rising
Hertha's 2-1 victory against Eintracht pushed Jürgen Klinsmann's Bayern down to fourth in the standings, with Marko Pantelić scoring both of their goals before Benjamin Köhler struck back. Bayer 04 Leverkusen remain a place above BV Borussia Dortmund in fifth after earning a 1-1 draw at the Westfalenstadion, while VfB Stuttgart won 2-0 against VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach. Hannover 96 prevailed 1-0 against FC Schalke 04 while Grafite's goal earned VfL Wolfsburg a 1-1 draw at 1. FC Köln.


Source: UEFA