Posted on Feb 04
Bayern Munich striker Ivica Olic equalised against former club Hamburg in Saturday night's 1-1 draw as defending champions Borussia Dortmund finish the weekend back on top of the German league.
In a tight title race, Bayern, Dortmund and Schalke all went into the weekend on 40 points, but Dortmund's 2-0 win at Nuremberg on Friday night puts them two points clear after their rivals failed to claim victories.
Hamburg took the lead when Peru forward Jose Guerrero curled in a clever cross which ex-Chelsea squad member Jacopo Sala, 20, headed home on 23 minutes.
Despite a string of chances, Bayern were frustrated by Hamburg's enthusiastic defence with their coach, ex-Bayern midfielder Thorsten Fink, urging them on.
Germany midfielder Thomas Mueller went close on 70 minutes for Bayern when his shot forced Hamburg goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny into a reflex save.
But just a minute later Croatia striker Olic saved Bayern's blushes with the equaliser from a corner just seven minutes after coming off the bench.
"It's nice to come back, I had some very good years here," said Olic, who joined Bayern in 2009 after two-and-a-half years at Hamburg.
"Of course, there's nothing better than taking a point, but that's not enough. We have to work hard to get back level again."
Munich have only taken four points from a possible nine in their last three league games and face FC Basel in the Round of 16 of the Champions League with the first-leg on February 22.
Bayern's point means they finish the weekend second and level with third-placed Schalke on 41 points.
Earlier, Schalke 04 moved up to second after their 1-1 draw with Mainz 05.
The guests took a shock lead when Egypt striker Mohamed Zidan, who signed from Schalke's deadly rivals Dortmund during January's transfer window, scored after just 15 minutes on his Mainz debut.
The Royal Blues got back on level terms when Nigeria striker Chinedu Obasi, who is on loan from Hoffenheim, netted in the 59th minute.
"In the first half, we didn't get into the game, because Mainz played so well and controlled the ball," admitted Schalke coach Huub Stevens.
"In the second half, I had to make a few changes to make us more dangerous.
"That was a step in the right direction, that may sound strange, but we are developing."
Moenchengladbach remain fourth after they were held to a goalless draw at Wolfsburg.
Fifth-placed Leverkusen, who host holders Barcelona in the Champions League Round of 16 first-leg tie on February 14, were held to a 2-2 draw at home by mid-table Stuttgart after an 89th-minute equaliser from Austria striker Martin Harnik.
In a dramatic last few minutes both sides finished with 10 men.
At the bottom of the table, second-from-bottom Augsburg produced a brave performance to draw 2-2 at Hoffenheim, while Hanover are seventh after their 1-0 win at Hertha Berlin.
On Sunday, bottom side Freiburg host Werder Bremen while Cologne are at Kaiserslautern.
Dortmund claimed first place in the league on Friday with an impressive win at Nuremberg in sub-zero temperatures.
Paraguay striker Lucas Barrios came off the bench to score his first goal of the season eight minutes from time after Dortmund captain Sebastian Kehl had put his team ahead just after the break.
The victory comes at a cost as midfielder Sven Bender damaged ankle ligaments and will discover on Monday how bad the injury is after an MRI scan while Kehl picked up a foot injury and is doubtful for Tuesday's German Cup quarter-final with Holstein Kiel.
Bayern Munich's midfielder Arjen Robben (R) fights for the ball with Hamburg's midfielder Tomas Rincon during their German first division Bundesliga football match in Hamburg, northern Germany. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Bayern Munich's midfielder Arjen Robben (R) fights for the ball with Hamburg's midfielder Tomas Rincon during their German first division Bundesliga football match in Hamburg, northern Germany. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.