Ballack header keeps Bayern on top

Michael Ballack showed his immense worth to Bayern Munich again yesterday, heading in 16 minutes from time to seal a 2-1 win away to Cologne and keep the champions two points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.

Cologne, beaten in their five previous league matches, took a surprise lead through Matthias Scherz in the 28th minute and held Bayern comfortably for the rest of the first half.

A defensive error let in Lucio for the equaliser 10 minutes after the break, though, and Ballack headed the winner from a Sebastian Deisler corner.

Werder Bremen stayed within striking distance of the champions after coming from behind to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 4-1, with goals from Torsten Frings, Tim Borowski (2) and Miroslav Klose.

With 11 games played, Bayern lead the standings with 28 points, followed by Bremen on 26.

Hamburg stayed third on 24 points as they became the first team to beat Schalke 04 in the league. Mehdi Mahdavikia got the only goal of the game in the 19th minute.

Schalke, who are now 10 points behind leaders Bayern in fourth place, had Danish defender Christian Poulsen sent off when he picked up a second booking in the 63rd minute.

The result will increase the pressure on Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick ahead of a crucial Champions League clash with Fenerbahce on Tuesday.

Giovanni Trapattoni, also feeling the heat, will have been relieved to see VfB Stuttgart snatch a 3-3 draw at home to Hertha Berlin thanks to a late Mario Gomez equaliser.

Bayern once again needed the determination of Ballack to clinch victory from another sub-par display.

Cologne took the lead with a fine goal in the first half. Marvin Matip's clever through ball wrong-footed the Bayern defence and gave Scherz space and time to steady himself and fire an angled shot that gave Oliver Kahn no chance.

Bayern created only a couple of clear chances before grabbing the equaliser in the 55th minute.

Bastian Schweinsteiger floated over a free kick from the left, Christian Rahn misjudged a header and the ball fall to Lucio to swipe into the roof of the net.

Valerian Ismael missed from no more than a metre out before Bayern moved ahead, as Ballack forced a corner and then converted it.

Kahn pulled off a reflex save when Alpay Ozalan headed at point-blank range from a corner 10 minutes from time.