Werder Bremen thumped Bayer Leverkusen 5-2 on Saturday to move level on points with tiring leaders Bayern Munich at the halfway stage of the season.

Bayern did just enough to hold on to top spot, and claim the honorary title of ‘winter champions’, with a goalless draw away to Hertha Berlin.

They now lead Werder only by goal difference, though, after Thomas Schaaf’s side recovered from their Champions League exit in midweek by clinching a great comeback win.

The highlights for the crowd were two goals from Ivan Klasnic, the Croatian striker who recently returned after two kidney transplant operations this year.

The results put both Bayern and Werder on 36 points from 17 matches, four ahead of third-placed Hamburg SV, after they needed a last-gasp equaliser from Ivica Olic to grab a 1-1 draw away to Karlsruhe.

Leverkusen stay fourth on 30 points, with Schalke 04 up to fifth a point further back after they won 2-1 at home to Nuremberg.

After Sunday’s remaining two matches, the Bundesliga takes a break until Feb. 1, by which time Bayern will hope to have recovered their sharpness.

BAYERN HELD

This was their second successive goalless draw and once again they looked …

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Werder Bremen jumped to the top of the Bundesliga table ahead of Bayern Munich on Saturday with a 2-1 home victory over Hamburg SV, capping a fine week after their 3-2 win against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Ivory Coast striker Boubacar Sanogo put Werder in front in the 15th minute on a soggy pitch, taking a through ball from Croatia midfielder Jurica Vranjes on the left and beating Hamburg goalkeeper Frank Rost with a crisp shot to the far post.

Hamburg got the equaliser against the run of play just past the hour when Rafael van der Vaart capitalised on a blunder from keeper Christian Vander. His attempt to clear went straight to the Dutch midfielder, who lobbed a shot back over Vander’s head.

Werder got back in front three minutes later through a Rost error.

Finland defender Petri Pasanen had tried to send in a cross from the right but Hamburg defender Vincent Kompany got a leg to it, deflecting it high before it tucked into the near corner.

Werder now lead for the first time this season with 33 points. Bayern, who play on Sunday at Arminia Bielefeld, are second on 31 points and Hamburg third …

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