Nadiem Amiri beats Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi from the spot to level for Mainz who continue their Bundesliga surge
Berlin (AFP) - Andrej Kramaric scored twice as Hoffenheim extended their strong run in the Bundesliga with a 3-1 home win over Union Berlin on Saturday.
Hoffenheim narrowly escaped relegation last season but have picked up 19 of a possible 21 points in their past seven games to move level with second-placed Borussia Dortmund.
Dortmund are at home to bottom club Heidenheim on Sunday. Hoffenheim sit eight points behind leaders Bayern Munich, who play at Hamburg later on Saturday.
Bayern host Hoffenheim next Sunday and Kramaric told Sky Germany: “We’re up for it – it’ll be a great test. If we keep up the performances we’ve had in the past few weeks, we won’t leave empty handed.”
Union’s rise to mid-table this season has been driven by steely defence but the Berlin club’s resistance was broken when defender Leopold Querfeld clipped Hoffenheim’s Fisnik Asllani in the box.
Kramaric converted from the spot with a cool chipped finish. The Croatia forward headed in a second from a Bazoumana Toure cross just before half-time.
Another Toure cross enabled the hosts to seal victory just after the break, as Union’s Diogo Leite scuffed the ball into his own net with Kramaric lurking.
Bayer Leverkusen moved a point behind fourth-placed Leipzig with a 3-1 win at free-falling Eintracht Frankfurt, without a coach until Albert Riera takes over next week. The hosts finished with 10 men.
Arthur gave Leverkusen the lead, his first Bundesliga goal, after a clever Alejandro Grimaldo backheel.
Malik Tillman made the most of some poor positioning from Frankfurt goalkeeper Kaua Santos moments later to double the lead.
A Robin Koch goal just after half-time gave Frankfurt a glimmer of hope, but Ellyes Skhiri picked up two yellow cards in three second-half minutes.
Frankfurt have won just one of their past 13 games in all competitions. On Friday, Riera was named coach in a surprise appointment, but the former Spain international, currently with Slovenian side Celje, will not arrive until Monday.
“We’ll be starting from zero,” Frankfurt’s Mario Goetze said, “step by step.”
Elsewhere, RB Leipzig became the latest victim of resurgent Mainz, going down 2-1 at home after taking the lead.
Konrad Harder put the hosts in front but Leipzig captain David Raum gave away a penalty for the second time in two games, allowing Germany midfielder Nadiem Amiri to level from the spot.
Silas gave Mainz the lead early in the second half. Mainz have lost just once in nine games since Urs Fischer took over as coach in December.
Elsewhere, Augsburg beat St Pauli 2-1 and Werder Bremen’s Keke Topp snatched a point with a splendid late goal at home in a 1-1 draw with Borussia Moenchengladbach.