Bayern still on Top

Hamburger SV missed the chance to close on second-placed Werder Bremen after being held by Hannover 96 and slipped to fourth after a Simon Rolfes inspired Bayer 04 Leverkusen edged out FC Energie Cottbus.

All-square
With Werder, who are three points behind FC Bayern München after the Bavarian club's 2-1 success at FC Hansa Rostock last night, not playing until tomorrow, Hamburg could have moved to within a point of second. However Szabolcs Huszti's 40th minute penalty gave Hannover a half-time lead and looked liked proving decisive until Ivica Olić (70) replied for the UEFA Cup hopefuls.

Late victory
Leverkusen meanwhile, are now ahead of Hamburg on goal difference after a late victory at Energie. Michal Papadopulos' first-half effort put the home side in front, but Rolfes just before the hour mark and Dmitri Bulykin turned the game in Leverkusen's favour. Energie then levelled through Christian Bassila 13 minutes from time, but Rolfes' second of the match gave Leverkusen the points.

Squandered lead
It looked being a profitable afternoon for MSV Duisburg, who threw away a two goal lead at home against BV Borussia Dortmund. The hosts were two goals to the good inside half-an-hour through Iulian Filipescu and Tobias Willi. Sebastian Kehl then reduced the arrears on 50 minutes but Mihai Tararache's penalty kick eight minutes later restored Duisburg's two goal cushion. However two Diego Klimowicz strikes (68 & 90) rescued a point for Dortmund, who remain in mid-table, while Duisburg stay bottom.

Fenin joy
Fellow strugglers 1. FC Nürnberg were beaten 2-0 at Karlsruher SC, two goals in seven second-half minutes from Christian Eichner and Joshua Kennedy earning Karlsruhe the points. In the afternoon's other fixtures, Martin Fenin's hat-trick gave Eintracht Frankfurt a 3-0 success at Hertha BSC Berlin, while VfL Wolfsburg triumphed 1-0 away at DSC Arminia Bielefeld.

FC Bayern München midfielder Franck Ribéry is a doubt for France's friendly against Spain on Wednesday due to a hamstring injury sustained in last night's 2-1 Bundesliga win against FC Hansa Rostock.

Hamstring pain
"I felt some hamstring pain during the first half," said the 24-year-old who was withdrawn at half-time after scoring the opener in the victory which took Bayern three points clear of Werder Bremen at the Bundesliga summit. Ribéry, who has been capped 24 times by France, may now miss the match in Malaga against fellow UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers Spain. He may also be in danger of sitting out Bayern's UEFA Cup Round of 32 first leg encounter against Aberdeen FC on 14 February.