Bundesliga round-up

Kroos: Late winner

Bayer Leverkusen won a five-goal thriller to regain top spot in the Bundesliga heading into the winter break, while rock bottom Hertha Berlin suffered a thumping loss.

Toni Kroos was on target in the 18th minute as Bayer Leverkusen took an early lead against Borussia Monchengladbach.

But Roel Brouwers replied on 37 minutes and Bonfim Da Costa Dante gave the visitors the lead on 54 minutes.

Eren Derdiyok equalised on 60 minutes and Kroos got the winner nine minutes later to send unbeaten Bayer back to the top by a point from Schalke.

Third-placed Bayern Munich kept up with the pace at the top by thumping rock bottom Hertha Berlin 5-2.

Daniel van Buyten put the home side ahead in the 16th minute before Mario Gomez doubled the advantage on 31 minutes.

Arjen Robben then scored two minutes later and Thomas Muller added a fourth on 60 minutes.

Adrian Ramos pulled one back but Ivica Olic restored the four-goal advantage before Raffael scored a last-gasp consolation for the visitors as Louis van Gaal's side made it four wins on the bounce in the league.

In-form Borussia Dortmund also made it four successive wins by beating Freiburg 1-0 to move into fourth in the table.

All-important

Lucas Barrios scored the all-important winner after 19 minutes to leave his side just three points off the top.

Champions Wolfsburg came from behind to draw 2-2 at Eintracht Frankfurt and move into eighth in the table.

Maik Franz put the hosts ahead in the 26th minute before Edin Dzeko equalised 11 minutes later.

The champions then took the lead via Josue on 69 minutes but the hosts took a share of the spoils when Alexander Meier replied ten minutes later.

Bochum came from two goals behind to win at Hannover and climb out of the relegation zone.

Jan Schlaudraff netted a first-half brace (6, 33) to put the hosts firmly in control but substitute Paul Freier pulled one back on 51 minutes and Joel Epalle netted three minutes later to restore parity.

Christian Fuchs then scored with four minutes remaining to earn the visitors a massive three points.

Stuttgart also claimed an important win in their battle against relegation, registering their first Bundesliga victory since September with a 3-1 success over 10-man Hoffenheim.

Ciprian Marica put the home side ahead with a penalty in the 32nd minute only for Maicosuel to level a minute before the break.

But Gustavo's red card in the 52nd minute proved the turning point, and goals from substitute Cacau (67) and Sami Khedira (82) earned Stuttgart a much-needed win.

The victories raised Bochum into 15th and Stuttgart into 14th, with both sides level on 16 points, while Cologne have dropped into the relegation zone.