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Bundesliga round up

Bundesliga: Hertha fans riot, Bayern fight back

March 13, 2010

Dozens of angry Hertha Berlin fans, some armed with steel bars, stormed the Olympic stadium pitch on Saturday after a 2-1 loss to Nuremberg left the rock-bottom capital side contemplating relegation.

Arjen Robben celebrates his winner for Bayern Munich
GettyImagesArjen Robben celebrates his winner for Bayern Munich

Players and coaching staff from both teams fled into the changing rooms as police chased the fans back into the stands.

Hertha fans invaded the pitch minutes after Nuremberg striker Angelos Haristeas had struck an injury-time winner to give Nuremberg a crucial win that lifted them out of the relegation zone on 24 points.

Hertha spokesman Gerd Graus said there were no reports of injuries. "This behaviour has no place in the Olympic stadium," Hertha coach Friedhelm Funkel told reporters. Hertha have been anchored in last place in the Bundesliga since mid-September. They have 15 points from 26 matches.

After a disastrous first half of the season when they collected only six points, Hertha, who narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification last season, had looked able to drag themselves off bottom spot in recent weeks.

They took a first-half lead against Nuremberg through Greece international Fanis Gekas before Swiss Albert Bunjaku and Haristeas snatched victory for the visitors.

Arjen Robben came to Bayern Munich's rescue for the second time in four days as his side went back to the top of the Bundesliga after a 2-1 defeat of Freiburg.

After putting the Bavarians into the last eight of the Champions League with his stunning goal against Fiorentina on Tuesday, his two goals enabled Bayern to come from behind to claim all three points against strugglers Freiburg today.

Cedric Makiadi had put the visitors ahead in the 31st minute, but a 76th-minute free-kick and then an 83rd-minute penalty from the Holland winger took them back above Schalke to the summit of the table.

Edin Dzeko inspired Wolfsburg to their fourth straight Bundesliga win with a brace on a comfortable afternoon at Borussia Monchengladbach.

Zvjezdan Misimovic put the Wolves ahead in the 41st minute before Dzeko scored his first from the penalty spot in the 49th minute.

Christian Gentner guaranteed Wolfsburg all three points 10 minutes later before Dzeko's 14th goal of the season ensured an even more convincing win for the defending German champions 10 minutes from time.

Hertha Berlin fans storm the pitch after their team lost to Nuremberg
GettyImagesHertha Berlin fans storm the pitch after their team lost to Nuremberg

Lucas Barrios scored twice late on as Borussia Dortmund went fourth in the Bundesliga with a dominant victory at 10-man Bochum.

Home defender Marcel Maltritz scored an own goal after 18 minutes and Mohamed Zidan doubled the advantage in the 27th minute. Bochum then went a man down after 33 minutes as Milos Maric was shown a red card.

The hosts were a different team after the break and Lewis Holtby made it 2-1 in the 53rd minute. But Barrios end all doubt with goals in the 74th and 77th minutes.

Mainz boosted their hopes of European qualification with a battling victory over struggling Cologne, despite playing most of the game with 10 men.

The hosts were facing an uphill struggle when Aristide Bance was sent off in the 27th minute, but Andre Schurrle netted shortly before the hour mark to hand them all three points.