Leverkusen pip Bayern to top spot

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BERLIN, Feb 21, 2010 (AFP) - Bayer Leverkusen equalled a Bundesliga record of 23 straight games unbeaten on Sunday as they overhauled Bayern Munich on goal difference at the top of the table with a 2-2 draw away to Werder Bremen.

Following a disappointing 1-1 draw away at lowly local rivals Nuremberg, Bayern are one goal behind Leverkusen, who were left to rue a lack of concentration that allowed Bremen to score an agonising last-minute equaliser.

Despite drawing two games the in-form leaders would have hoped to win, they nevertheless stretched their lead over third-placed Schalke to four points after they slipped up 2-1 to last season's champions Wolfsburg.

But Leverkusen coach Jupp Heynckes dismissed what he described as premature talk of lifting the Bundesliga crown.

"I let other people talk about the championship or the title. I think it's best at the moment to take each game and each opponent as they come," he said.

"But of course, we are confident because the team is living up to its huge potential, showing that we can play football and we have also learned to defend."

Leverkusen's German international defender Manuel Friedrich, however, was bitter at the last-minute header from Bremen's Per Mertesacker, after a spectacular strike from Bayern Munich old-boy Toni Kroos had put them ahead.

"That felt like a defeat," Friedrich said.

Fourth-placed Hamburg, without star signing Ruud van Nistelrooy who has picked up a thigh strain, also failed to take advantage of the winless top three, playing out a disappointing 0-0 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the table, bottom club Hertha Berlin finally gave their fans something to cheer as a double strike from Brazilian midfielder Cicero inspired them to a 3-0 away win at fellow strugglers Freiburg.

The win means Hertha are now only two points adrift at the foot of the table with only four points separating four clubs - Hertha, Nuremberg, Hanover and Freiburg - in an increasingly tight relegation dogfight.

Friedhelm Funkel, Hertha's coach, was overjoyed with his team's dramatic improvement. "I'm delighted ... we were more stable, didn't concede and scored a couple of wonderful goals," he said.

"This win was a very important step to get us out from the bottom ... we still need plenty more points to reach our target," he added.

Freiburg, in a precarious position after what was effectively a relegation six-pointer, were "unbelievably disappointed," according to coach Robin Dutt.

"You could hear a pin drop in the changing room. After we went 1-0 down, the team disintegrated mentally. That was our worst game," he said.

Meanwhile, in by far and away the best game of the weekend, Stuttgart got the ideal preparation for the Champions League visit of Barcelona with a 5-1 drubbing of Cologne, with German striker Cacau the star, hitting four.

"We want to create an upset," said the Brazilian-born Cacau, in eager anticipation of playing against the defending champions of Europe in the last-16 first leg match on Tuesday.