Soccer / Football : Germany : Bundesliga 2009/2010

Bayern Munich extended their winning streak to eight game by beating fading champions Wolfsburg 3-1 to draw level on points with Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the Bundesliga. Leverkusen, unbeaten in the German league, were held 1-1 at lowly Bochum after surrendering a halftime lead. The two top teams have 45 points from 21 games but Leverkusen lead on goal difference.

Third-placed Schalke were held to a goalless draw at Freiburg and Hamburger, in fourth, gave up a two-goal lead in the final 15 minutes to draw 3-3 at Koln. Borussia Dortmund lost touch with the Bundesliga leaders after suffering a 3-2 home defeat by Eintracht Frankfurt. Werder Bremen snapped a five-game losing streak with a 2-1 home victory over bottom-placed Hertha Berlin.

Hamburger SV coach Bruno Labbadia told the press on Thursday that new signing Ruud van Nistelrooy wouldn't be part of the match squad for Saturday's Bundesliga game against Koeln. However, attackers Tunay Torun and Mladen Petric are both short of full match fitness, prompting Labbadia to add van Nistelrooy to his squad. Meanwhile, young defender Jerome Boateng is doubtful for Saturday's game after he has picked up an ankle injury.

Rising Bayern Munich stars, midfielder Thomas Mueller and defender Holger Badstuber, two of the Bundesliga's brightest prospects, have extended their contracts until 2014. The pair, who are both 20, have earned regular places in the Bayern team this season under coach Louis van Gaal. Meanwhile, Belgian defender Daniel van Buyten has also extended his contract with the Bavarian giants until 2012.

Struggling Hannover have signed Ivory Coast striker Arouna Kone and Brazilian midfielder Elson on loan in an effort to bolster their fight against relegation from the Bundesliga. The 26-year-old Kone is joining from Sevilla, while Elson, 28, arrives from Stuttgart, both until the end of the season. Hannover are in the relegation zone after a poor run that resulted in coach Andreas Bergmann being dismissed and replaced by Mirko Slomka.

Mainz have signed Slovakia defender Radoslav Zabavnik from Terek Grozny and German defender Malik Fathi from Spartak Moscow. The 29-year-old Zabavnik joins the Bundesliga club on a free transfer deal until the end of the season, with an option to extend it through June 2012. The 26-year-old Fathi is returning home on loan for the rest of this campaign. He previously played in the Bundesliga for Hertha Berlin.

Werder Bremen have moved to strengthen their attack and halt their slide down the Bundesliga by signing Germany under-21 striker Sandro Wagner from second division side Duisburg. The 22-year-old has put pen to paper on a four-and-a-half-year contract after passing a medical, despite still being in recovery following a torn knee ligament.In return, Werder sent defender Dusko Tosic and forward Kevin Schindler to Duisburg on loan until the end of the season. Schindler already had been on loan to second-division club Augsburg.

Bayer Leverkusen struck three times in four minutes to ease past Freiburg 3-1 and reclaim top spot in the Bundesliga on Sunday, two points ahead of Bayern Munich. Leverkusen restored their two-point lead over Bayern, who had briefly gone top on Saturday after their 3-0 win over Mainz. Schalke remained in third place, a further point behind, following their 2-0 victory over Hoffenheim.

Stuttgart brought Borussia Dortmund's 12-game unbeaten run to an abrupt halt with a 4-1 victory, their fourth straight win in the Bundesliga. Dortmund stayed fourth despite the end of their six-match winning run and Stuttgart, still undefeated under new coach Christian Gross, moved up to 10th. Werder Bremen have now gone seven league games without a win after a 4-3 loss at Borussia Moenchengladbach.

It seems that Bayern will once again be without Franck Ribery, despite his willingness to play. Ribery has barely play this term and it seems unlikely he will be involved against Mainz on Saturday either. "I think that he is not fit," said coach Louis Van Gaal. "Players must be fit to play – out of respect to others if nothing else. He knows that he is not fit. It's about the team, not about one player. Each week I must make the decisions over who plays in the 11. But if we win and play well, I have no desire to change it."