Surprise package Mainz continue to fight it out at the top of the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund.  A single Ivanschitz strike gave Mainz all three points at Leverkusen whilst Dortmund were grateful for an injury time equaliser from Da Silva to save face at home to TSG Hoffenheim. Dortmund continue to be inspired by Paraguayan striker Lucas Barrios who this week declared his desire to remain at Dortmund despite high profile interest from other clubs rumoured to include Milan and Manchester City. Mainz coach Thomas Tuchel recently played down his side’s achievements so far but Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp believes that his former team can maintain their challenge at the top for the long-term. “Basically every team of the league can end up a title winner, still I am just one of a few thinking that Mainz could become champions” said Klopp, “I am not taking Mainz for granted, they are serious challengers.”

Hannover 96 retained a top four place with a 2-1 home win over Cologne. However, they will have to cope without the services of their Austrian international defender Emanuel Pogatetz for almost a month after the former Middlesbrough player suffered a thigh injury. Hamburg stay fifth after a goal-less home draw against a miss-firing Bayern Munich.

Cologne’s defeat leaves them firmly in the bottom three with Borussian M’gladback who went down 4-1 at home to Werder Bremen and Shalke 04 helping them to prop up all others.  Stuttgart remain involved in the wrong half of the table but a 2-0 home win over St Pauli moved them u to 14^th.