Cologne boost survival hopes

LUKAS PODOLSKI and Milivoje Novakovic each netted a brace as Cologne gave their Bundesliga survival hopes a further boost with a convincing 4-2 victory over Mainz yesterday.

Frank Schafer’s side, who stunned champions Bayern Munich 3-2 last weekend, were one up through Podolski after just three minutes and, although Sami Allagui levelled, Novakovic soon restored Cologne’s lead.

Podolski and Novakovic were on target again in the second-half to seal another impressive victory – and lift Cologne out of the drop zone – despite a late consolation from Petar Sliskovic.

On Saturday Borussia Dortmund endured a frustrating afternoon in the Bundesliga as a last-minute goal from Jan Moravek saw them held to a 1-1 draw by Kaiserslautern.

Sven Bender’s strike eight minutes from time looked to have earned the league leaders their 17th win of the season, but the game began to unravel five minutes later when they lost Neven Subotic to a second yellow card. And Kaiserslautern made their man advantage count with Moravek hitting the equaliser in the dying seconds.

Dortmund are now 10 points clear of nearest challengers Bayer Leverkusen, who cut their deficit with a 3-0 victory at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Arjen Robben inspired Bayern Munich to an emphatic 4-0 win over Hoffenheim.