Bayer Leverkusen claimed a 3-1 Bundesliga victory at bottom club Borussia Moenchengladbach on Sunday as Germany captain Michael Ballack returned from a long-term injury.
Michal Kadlec opened the scoring in the 37th minute with a curling free-kick and Gonzalo Castro headed the second on the stroke of half- time.
Marco Reus was denied by the crossbar early on for the hosts, but Martin Stranzl was on target in the 65th for 2-1. However, Leverkusen wrapped up matters from Castro's second on the counter in the 73rd after Leverkusen just managed to avoid an equalizer seconds earlier.
Ballack, 34, was fielded in the 56th minute in his first top flight appearance since he suffered a lower-leg fracture in early September, and his clearance in the area set up the final goal.
"It was a good feeling to fight back after a long period of suffering," said Ballack.
Leverkusen have not lost a Bundesliga match in Moenchengladbach in 22 years and moved into second place.
Moenchengladbach, who triumphed 6-3 in Leverkusen in August and beat them at home in the cup in October, remain last - six points from safe 15th place and without a league home win since April 2010.
Borussia Dortmund lead the way with 47 points, with Leverkusen 11 points adrift on 36. Hanover 96 have 34 while champions Bayern Munich and Mainz 05 are on 33 each.
Dortmund were surprisingly held 1-1 by lowly VfB Stuttgart on Saturday, Munich thrashed Kaiserslautern 5-1, while Mainz and Hanover had to swallow 1-0 home defeats, against VfL Wolfsburg and Scahlke 04, respectively.
"Dortmund are gone but there will be several teams fighting for second place. It is our aim to stay second," said Ballack.
In other weekend results, SV Hamburg defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0, Cologne downed troubled Werder Bremen 3-0 and Freiburg drew 1-1 with Nuremberg. Hoffenheim and St Pauli were due to wrap up the round later Sunday.
Michal Kadlec opened the scoring in the 37th minute with a curling free-kick and Gonzalo Castro headed the second on the stroke of half- time.
Marco Reus was denied by the crossbar early on for the hosts, but Martin Stranzl was on target in the 65th for 2-1. However, Leverkusen wrapped up matters from Castro's second on the counter in the 73rd after Leverkusen just managed to avoid an equalizer seconds earlier.
Ballack, 34, was fielded in the 56th minute in his first top flight appearance since he suffered a lower-leg fracture in early September, and his clearance in the area set up the final goal.
"It was a good feeling to fight back after a long period of suffering," said Ballack.
Leverkusen have not lost a Bundesliga match in Moenchengladbach in 22 years and moved into second place.
Moenchengladbach, who triumphed 6-3 in Leverkusen in August and beat them at home in the cup in October, remain last - six points from safe 15th place and without a league home win since April 2010.
Borussia Dortmund lead the way with 47 points, with Leverkusen 11 points adrift on 36. Hanover 96 have 34 while champions Bayern Munich and Mainz 05 are on 33 each.
Dortmund were surprisingly held 1-1 by lowly VfB Stuttgart on Saturday, Munich thrashed Kaiserslautern 5-1, while Mainz and Hanover had to swallow 1-0 home defeats, against VfL Wolfsburg and Scahlke 04, respectively.
"Dortmund are gone but there will be several teams fighting for second place. It is our aim to stay second," said Ballack.
In other weekend results, SV Hamburg defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0, Cologne downed troubled Werder Bremen 3-0 and Freiburg drew 1-1 with Nuremberg. Hoffenheim and St Pauli were due to wrap up the round later Sunday.
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