Hoffenheim returns to summit

Source: Agencies  |   2008-10-31  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

FRANCK Ribery struck again to give Bayern Munich a 2-1 comeback win at Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday while Hoffenheim returned to the top of the German Bundesliga with a 3-1 victory at VfL Bochum.

Bayern started casually and fell behind early in the second half through a Martin Demichelis own-goal.

Miroslav Klose equalized and Ribery, who scored his first goal of an injury-hit season to lead another rallying 4-2 win over VfL Wolfsburg last Saturday, sealed Bayern's victory with 20 minutes to go when he netted from the edge of the area.

Hoffenheim's comeback was even better, digging itself out of trouble with three goals in a seven-minute burst in the second half.

Bochum took the lead in the third minute and it was hard going for the Bundesliga newcomer before Demba Ba put it level just past the hour. Vedad Ibisevic converted a penalty to take his goal tally for the season to 11 and Brazilian midfielder Carlos Eduardo made certain of the win with a deft finish a minute later.

Hoffenheim leads on 22 points from 10 games followed by Bayer Leverkusen on 21. Hamburg SV is third on 20 points thanks to a 2-0 triumph at home to VfB Stuttgart while Bayern is fourth on 18.

In Italy, champion Inter Milan recorded its second goalless draw in a row at Fiorentina on Wednesday to leave Udinese and Napoli clear at the top of Serie A.

Forwards Alexis Sanchez and Fabio Quagliarella netted with superb strikes to give Udinese a 2-0 win at Catania.

Fellow surprise pacesetter Napoli beat bottom side Reggina 3-0.

The pair have 20 points from nine games with Inter slipping from joint top to fourth on 18 after again failing to find the net after Sunday's 0-0 home draw with Genoa.

AC Milan moved above its city rivals into third, one behind the leader, after a 2-1 home over Siena while Juventus continued its resurgence by winning 2-1 at Bologna.