Braunschweig rise, Bayern rule

There was plenty of joy for away teams on Saturday, with Schalke, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Freiburg and Wolfsburg all tasting success on their travels.

But it was Braunschweig's 1-0 win over Leverkusen that stole the headlines. It leaves the club still mired to the bottom of the Bundesliga table, but now within three points and goal difference from safety.

Even if they do not survive the drop, the win is already destined to be one of the club's highlights this season. They had some help even before a ball was kicked, with Leverkusen coach Sami Hyypia showing he already had an eye on his team's Champions League commitments by resting several stars.

Stefan Kiessling, Sidney Sam and Son Heung-Min all began the match watching on among the substitutes. In their places, Robbie Kruse, Eren Derdiyok and Jens Hegeler started.

It was the former who had Leverkusen's best chance to take something out of the match.

Racing onto the end of blocked Hegeler shot on 20 minutes, Kruse made poor contact and could not beat Braunschweig goalkeeper Daniel Davari.

The look on the Australian forward's face told the story, and it was a spurned opportunity that would come back and haunt his team.

Leverkusen's frustrations built as the game wore on, and Hyypia reacted by bringing on Lars Bender at half-time and Sam and Kiessling for Kruse and Derdiyok on 64 minutes.

But that frustration turned to dismay in the 81st minute, when Norman Theuerkauf's volleyed cutback was bundled home by Dominick Kumbela.

The goal was hardly a memorable one - it came off the striker's knee and then his trailing leg before beating Bernd Leno in goal - but it was enough to send the stands at Eintracht Stadium into delirium.

Bayern back on top

Elsewhere, for the second-consecutive week, Bayern Munich came from a goal down to win - this time against Hoffenheim.

Towering defender Niklas Süle put the hosts in front after lashing home a corner at the back post on 34 minutes, but a Franck Ribery free-kick deflected off Mario Mandzukic to bring Bayern level just five minutes later.

They then ensured they retook top spot on the Bundesliga table when Thomas Müller - otherwise rather errant in his shooting all match - finally found the back of the net on 75 minutes to clinch a 2-1 win.

Hertha Berlin succumbed 2-0 to Schalke at home, with Adam Szalai's header and Julian Draxler's fine late effort sending the visitors into sixth on the table.

Hamburg suffered their own defeat in front of their home fans, with Max Kruse scoring a double. It was a match to forget for Hamburg defender Lasse Sobiech, whose lackadaisical defending led to both goals.

Sobiech may take some solace in the redemption of Freiburg goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, however. Baumann suffered a nightmare outing in last Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Hamburg, being at fault for all three goals.

He was man of the match as Freiburg reversed that result with a 3-0 at Nuremberg, however, with Felix Klaus, Vladimir Darida and Admir Mehmedi getting the goals in a vital win for their club.

In the later game, an early goal put Wolfsburg on the way to a 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt. An Anderson own-goal was cancelled out by a superb free-kick from Frankfurt captain Alex Meier, but Maximilian Arnold prodded home on 82 minutes to hand his side the full points.

The win moved Wolfsburg into fifth on the table, with Frankfurt remaining in 14th and dangerously close to the relegation zone.