[GERMANY] The Bundesliga resumed as it left off with tiny Hoffenheim the surprise leader. Despite having lost top scorer Vedad Ibisevic, the former Saint Louis University star, for the rest of the season with a knee injury during the winter break, Hoffenheim brushed aside Energie Cottbus, 2-0, on Saturday.

Senegalese international Demba Ba scored his eighth goal, and Ivorian Boubacar Sanogo scored in his debut after joining Hoffenheim  on loan from Werder Bremen.

Hoffenheim went into the winter break with the lead over Bayern Munich on goal difference. Bayern fell to Hamburg, 1-0, on Friday in Landon Donovan's Bundesliga debut for Bayern and dropped to fourth place.

Hertha Berlin, which downed Eintracht Frankfurt, 2-1, on Marko Pantelic's two goals, is tied with Hamburg in second place, two points behind Hoffenheim.