Bayern disgraceful says coach Hitzfeld

Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld described his champions' 2-2 German league draw against Cologne as disgraceful while elsewhere Bayern's title rivals were failing to grab victory.

Peruvian Claudio Pizzaro looked to be helping Bayern Munich gain ground on their winless rivals with two goals but Cologne hit back to level affairs in the Bavarian capital.

Bayern Munich, six points adrift in fourth spot, will have been disappointed not to have made the most of their lead against Cologne.

And Hitzfeld said: "When Cologne pulled it back to 2-2 we got nervous. It was a disgraceful showing if you consider we have high hopes of winning the championship.

"I'm extremely disappointed - we had a great opportunity to win this match. We really should have gone ahead in the first half hour but we made mistakes which gave our opponents confidence."

Pizarro stabbed home twice from close in in the 42nd and 49 minutes for his sixth and seventh goals this season to give Bayern the lead but Alexander Voigt equalized for Cologne with half an hour left.

Voronin crossed from wide on the right into the penalty area and Voigt, running in, headed home from an acute angle.

Cologne have no major star but the spirited side made up for their lack of merit by high workrate.

Cologne had taken the initial lead when a poor freekick by Bayern's Bosnian international Hasan Salihamidzic left Cologne midfielder Florian Kringe on the ball and he quickly passed to Andre Voronic who found himself with just keeper Oliver Kahn to beat. Voronin made no mistake to put the visitors in front on 35 minutes.

Leading clubs meanwhile were slipping up with Hannover in ninth spot the highest club to grab all three points in a 3-0 home victory over SC Freiburg.

Leaders Stuttgart, who were on a high after beating Scottish club Rangers 1-0 in midweek Champions League action, were unable to prolong their positive spell in a goalless fixture at VfL Bochum.

The south western German club, who had won their last three home matches, were hampered however by the absences of playmaker Alexander Hleb of Belarus and Brazilian defender Marcelo Bordon, both injured, and suspended Portuguese defender Fernando Meira.

Stuttgart, the only team still unbeaten this season, remained two points ahead of Werder Bremen, who drew 1-1 at SV Hamburg, and three ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, who drew 2-2 at home to 1860 Munich.

Borussia Dortmund, in fifth place and who were eliminated by French club Sochaux in midweek UEFA Cup action, now have a chance to close the gap on the leading four clubs should they win at Hansa Rostock on Sunday.