FSV Mainz 05

Hertha battle past Leverkusen, Mainz thrash Hamburg

Published Dec. 5, 2015 12:38 p.m. ET

foxsports

Hertha Berlin won the battle of fifth against sixth to move five points clear of Bayer Leverkusen with a 2-1 triumph at the Olympiastadion.

Vladimir Darida put the Old Lady in front, but Javier Hernandez's eighth goal in his last 10 games brought Leverkusen level.

They had been playing with 10 men since the 17th minute when Sebastian Boenisch was sent off, and they were beaten by John Anthony Brooks' header on the hour mark, dropping to eighth ahead of a crucial Champions League clash with Barcelona on Wednesday.

Mainz brought an abrupt end to Hamburg's recent purple patch with a 3-1 win at the Volksparkstadion.

Jairo Samperio gave the guests the lead in unorthodox fashion after 16 minutes, lobbing the ball over Jaroslav Droby while lying flat on the ground after his initial cross came straight back to him off a Hamburg defender.

Michael Gregoritsch wasted a glorious opportunity to level when he lifted his shot over from 10 yards out with only Loris Karius to beat, before Samperio doubled Mainz's lead early in the second half.

Christian Clemens added a third on the counter-attack, with Samperio playing him in to beat Drobny low into the bottom left-hand corner.

Johan Djourou did give the home fans something to celebrate with a last-minute headed goal, but it was scant consolation for Bruno Labbadia's men as they missed the chance to move into the top six.

Augsburg moved out of the bottom three on Saturday thanks to a 1-0 win over Cologne at the Mungersdorferstadion.

The visitors were furious when a penalty was awarded after Philipp Hosiner went down between two Augsburg defenders in the box.

But Anthony Modeste, who has not scored since October 4, saw his penalty saved by Augsburg shot-stopper Marwin Hitz.

A free-kick which bemused Cologne carried a greater punishment as Raul Bobadilla gave Augsburg the lead, lifting the ball over the wall and into the corner where Timo Horn could not reach it.

With Horn up for a late corner, it took a goal-line clearance to preserve Augsburg's lead and a place outside the relegation zone, at least until Sunday.

Mark Uth salvaged struggling Hoffenheim a point at Ingolstadt with an equalizer in the sixth minute of stoppage time to draw 1-1 in Bavaria.

Kevin Volland wasted the best chance of the first half when he found himself with only Ramazan Ozcan to beat, but sent his shot crashing against the left-hand upright.

After Pascal Gross had missed a direct free-kick in the first half, Roger stepped up to take their next set-piece in the 66th minute, and he found the top right-hand corner.

It was not enough for all three points, though, as Uth equalized deep in stoppage time, rewarding Huub Stevens' side for their determination and taking them off the foot of the table, at least for a night.